Thursday, February 18th, 2010
Learn how to setup, configure, secure, optimize, and create a low-maintenance website the AskApache way. I’m piecing together all the hacks, tricks, methods, and ideas discussed throughout this blog and all across Netdom and glueing them all together to show you how to have the most optimized, crazy fastest, and best website setup I can think of.
Tags: 301 Redirect, admin, Advanced, Ajax, Apache, apache server, askapache, Backups, Bandwidth, bleeding edge, blog, Cache, Cache-Control, caching, ColdFusion, compression, CSS, Dig, DNS, errordocument, Etags, Examples, expires header, feed, File Permissions, Flash, GET, Hacking, hacks, Htaccess, htaccess files, Htpasswd, HTTP Error, HTTP Headers, HTTP Status Codes, HTTPS SSL, Javascript, Linux, Login, Logs, Mod_Rewrite, Optimization, optimizations, optimized website, password, password protection, PDF, Performance, PHP, php.ini, Port, post, ram, real deal, Redirect, Redirection, Rewrite Tricks, Robot, robots, robots.txt, Scripts, search and replace, Security, server, server config, servers, SPEED, SSI, stat, SymLinks, trial and error, trick, Web Development, Web Hosting, web server, WordPress, WordPress Plugins
Posted in Apache, Cache, DreamHost, Featured, Hacking, Htaccess, Linux Unix BSD, PHP, SEO, Security, Shell Scripting, Web Design, Web Hosting, Webmaster, WordPress | 9 Comments »
Sunday, November 29th, 2009
There are so many WordPress plugins out there now that I wanted to post my favorite 3 plugins for speeding up a WP-Powered blog. These are the 3 plugins that I install for pretty much all of my WP-Powered sites, which I run about 300 now. They work together to provide a very optimized blog for speed.
DB-Cache Reloaded does something entirely different, it saves the mysql queries that are made to the WP-database, as well as the mysql results to static files, and then through php serves those cached-files instead of re-querying the mysql database. Most mysql databases are stored on separate servers, and although many are on the same local network there is a limit to how many queries, and how many connections can take place.
So DB-Cache Reloaded basically makes WP-Super Cache work alot faster when generating the cache files, and DB-Cache Reloaded helps in a number of areas un-related to WP-Super Cache, like in the admin panel. And DB-Cache without WP-Super-Cache is a joke because it still uses the application-level and php for everything. Gotta use both (or just WPSC).
Tags: admin, Apache, askapache, AskApache Crazy Cache, Bandwidth, Bottleneck, Cache, caching, compression, Dig, filesystem, GET, httpd, mysql, Networking, password, PHP, post, Private Server, ram, Scripts, server, servers, SPEED, SSI, stat, Web Hosting, WordPress, WordPress Optimizing, WordPress Plugins, WordPress Speed, WP-Super Cache
Posted in Apache, Cache, Featured, Mod_Rewrite, Review, Server Administration, Web Hosting, Webmaster, WordPress, WordPress Plugins | 14 Comments »
Sunday, October 18th, 2009
Advanced Web Development by AskApache is a Firefox Collection I created since I’m always trying new Addons out and using multiple computers and I wanted a quick and easy way to install my favorite’s and keep a running list. Firebug, YSlow, LastPass, and Web Developer are the only ones I always use regularly.
I like the idea of the last.fm but it’s not as powerful as the site, which is awesome. Lately listening to Kings of Leon Radio…
Tags: 401, 403 Forbidden, 500, Accessibility, Advanced, Ajax, Apache, askapache, Backups, Cache, caching, CommandLine, console, Cookies, CSS, debugging, Dig, DNS, Email, encryption, feed, Firebug, Firefox, Flash, Forms, GET, Gmail, Google, HTTP Headers, HTTPS SSL, Javascript, Login, Networking, Nice, Pagerank, password, Performance, PHP, Port, post, ram, Scripts, Security, SEO, server, servers, SOCKS, Source Code, SPEED, SSH, SSH Tunnels, SSI, stat, tmpfs, trick, Username, Web Development, Wireshark, WordPress, YSlow
Posted in Cache, Firefox, Google, Hacking, Javascript, Making Money, Music, Review, SEO, Security, Web Design, Web Tools, Webmaster, Windows | 4 Comments »
Saturday, October 10th, 2009
To prepare for several upcoming articles on AskApache that are focused on optimizing Servers and Sites from a server admin level, here is an article to introduce the main tools that we will be using. These tools are used to optimize CPU time for each process using nice and renice, and other tools like ionice are used to optimize the Disk IO, or Disk speed / Disk traffic for each process. Then you can make sure your mysqld and httpd processes are always fast and prioritized.
Tags: 503, Advanced, Apache, askapache, Backups, Bandwidth, bash, Blocking, Boot, Bottleneck, caching, compression, CPU, CSS, curl, Disk IO, DNS, Examples, feed, fifo, GET, httpd, ionice, iostat, Javascript, Linux, mysql, Nice, Optimization, pagefile, Performance, Perl, PHP, Port, ram, Renice, Round Robin, rsync, Scripts, Security, server, servers, Shell, shell script, Shell Scripting, Socket, SPEED, SSH, SSI, stat, taskset, trick, Ulimit, Web Hosting, WordPress, wp-config.php
Posted in Apache, Cache, Featured, Linux Unix BSD, Review, Security, Server Administration, Shell Scripting, Web Hosting, Webmaster | 3 Comments »
Sunday, August 30th, 2009
Web Developers sometimes use file.ext?v=004 as a version control system to force visitors to use updated files. This is terrible. Instead link to apache-003.css and set it to be cached forever. When you change the file you just change the links to apache-004.css. That eliminates millions of bandwidth and resource robbing If-Modified-Since requests. You only need Apache with mod_rewrite, and 1-10 minutes!
Tags: Apache, askapache, Bandwidth, Cache, Cache-Control, caching, Cookies, CSS, GET, Htaccess, HTTP Headers, httpd, httpd.conf, If-Modified-Since, Javascript, Last-Modified, Mod_Rewrite, Redirect, Rewrite Tricks, rewritecond, rewriterule, server, Source Code, SPEED, stat, trick
Posted in Apache, CSS, Cache, DreamHost, Featured, Htaccess, Mod_Rewrite, SEO, Security, Server Administration, Web Design, Web Hosting, Webmaster, XHTML | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
The goal is to add the HostGator server to be an exact mirror of the static.askapache.com domain, then to add that server as a 2nd A record to my DNS zone. That way half the visitors to the size will be taking up resources and bandwidth on the HostGator server instead of mine.
Round Robin A records in DNS are intended to evenly distribute queries between each host of the same name. Using some tricks straight out of a hackers toolbox we can verify if the distribution is taking place. (It is.)
Tags: 500, 503, admin, Apache, askapache, ASP, Bandwidth, Cache, caching, CNAME, CSS, Dig, DNS, DreamHost, experiments, GET, HostGator, HowTo, Htaccess, HTTPS SSL, Javascript, Linux, Logs, Networking, Nice, PHP, Port, Powweb, Prompt, PS1, Round Robin, rsync, Security, server, servers, Shell, SPEED, SSH, SSI, stat, trick, Web Hosting
Posted in Ajax, Apache, Apache Modules, Cache, Featured, Linux Unix BSD, Web Hosting | 5 Comments »
Saturday, January 10th, 2009
Skip this – still under edit
I discovered these tips and tricks mostly while working as a network security penetration specialist hired to find security holes in web hosting environments. Shared hosting is the most common and cheapest form of web-hosting where multiple customers are placed on a single machine and “share” the resources (CPU/RAM/SPACE). The machines are configured to basically ONLY do HTTP and FTP. No shells or any interactive logins, no ssh, just FTP access. That is when I started examining htaccess files in great detail and learned about the incredible untapped power of htaccess. For 99% of the worlds best Apache admins, they don’t use .htaccess much, if AT ALL. It’s much easier, safer, and faster to configure Apache using the httpd.conf file instead. However, this file is almost never readable on shared-hosts, and I’ve never seen it writable. So the only avenue left for those on shared-hosting was and is the .htaccess file, and holy freaking fiber-optics.. it’s almost as powerful as httpd.conf itself!
Most all .htaccess code works in the httpd.conf file, but not all httpd.conf code works in .htaccess files, around 50%. So all the best Apache admins and programmers never used .htaccess files. There was no incentive for those with access to httpd.conf to use htaccess, and the gap grew. It’s common to see “computer gurus” on forums and mailing lists rail against all uses and users of .htaccess files, smugly announcing the well known problems with .htaccess files compared with httpd.conf – I wonder if these “gurus” know the history of the htaccess file, like it’s use in the earliest versions of the HTTP Server- NCSA’s HTTPd, which BTW, became known as Apache HTTP. So you could easily say that htaccess files predates Apache itself.
Once I discovered what .htaccess files could do towards helping me enumerate and exploit security vulnerabilities even on big shared-hosts I focused all my research into .htaccess files, meaning I was reading the venerable Apache HTTP Source code 24/7! I compiled every released version of the Apache Web Server, ever, even NCSA’s, and focused on enumerating the most powerful htaccess directives. Good times! Because my focus was on protocol/file/network vulnerabilites instead of web dev I built up a nice toolbox of htaccess tricks to do unusual things. When I switched over to webdev in 2005 I started using htaccess for websites, not research. I documented most of my favorites and rewrote the htaccess guide for webdevelopers. After some great encouragement on various forums and nets I decided to start a blog to share my work with everyone, AskApache.com was registered, I published my guide, and it was quickly plagiarized and scraped all over the net. Information is freedom, and freedom is information, so this blog has the least restrictive copyright for you. Feel free to modify, copy, republish, sell, or use anything on this site ;)
Tags: .htaccess examples, 301 Redirect, 302 Redirect, 401, 403 Forbidden, 404 Not Found, 500, 503, admin, Advanced, Apache, Apache Htaccess, apache ssl, askapache, ASP, authorization, Backups, Bandwidth, bash, Blocking, Boot, Cache, Cache-Control, caching, cheatsheet, chmod, code snippets, compression, Cookies, CSS, debugging, DreamHost, Email, error log, errordocument, Etags, Examples, experiments, feed, FeedBurner, File System, FilesMatch, filesystem, Firefox, Flash, Forms, GET, Google, Hacking, hotlinking, HowTo, Htaccess, htaccess files, htaccess guide, htaccess rewrite, htaccess tricks, htaccess tutorial, Htpasswd, HTTP Error, HTTP Headers, HTTP-EQUIV, httpd, httpd.conf, HTTPS SSL, hyper text transfer protocol, If-Modified-Since, Javascript, Last-Modified, Linux, Login, Logs, mad skills, mod_include, mod_python, Mod_Rewrite, Mod_Rewrite examples, Mod_Security, Mod_Setenvif, mysql, Nice, nsa, password, password protection, PDF, Performance, Perl, PHP, php.ini, phpinfo, Port, post, Powweb, Prompt, Python, ram, Redirect, Redirection, Request Method, Rewrite Tricks, rewritecond, rewriterule, Robot, robots, Sample .htaccess, Scripts, Security, SEO, seo secrets, server, server config, servers, SetEnvIf, Shell, Socket, Source Code, SPEED, SSH, SSI, stat, SymLinks, trick, tutorial, ultimate htaccess, Username, Web Hosting, WordPress
Posted in Apache, Apache Modules, Cache, DreamHost, Featured, Google, Hacking, Htaccess, Linux Unix BSD, Mod_Rewrite, SEO, Security, Web Design, Web Hosting, Web Tools, Webmaster, WordPress | 71 Comments »
Friday, October 17th, 2008
Top 3 ways to speed up websites that use Google Analytics. Host Script Locally, Fix Google-Analytics Cookie Domain, and Failsafe Loading for optimum tracking statistics.
Tags: Analytics, Apache, askapache, Cache, caching, compression, Cookies, DNS, GET, Google, Google Analytics, Htaccess, HTTPS SSL, Javascript, server, Source Code, SPEED, SSI, stat, Tracking Code, Web Hosting
Posted in Ajax, Cache, Featured, Google, Javascript | 10 Comments »
Wednesday, October 1st, 2008
One way I speed up AskApache.com is by downloading external third-party javascript files to host on my own server instead of externally. In addition to the obvious speed boost, this lets you configure the caching and compression settings for the files.
Tags: Advanced, Analytics, Apache, askapache, bash, Cache, caching, compression, curl, debugging, DNS, Google, Google Analytics, Htaccess, Javascript, Mod_Rewrite, Nice, Pipelining, Port, Renice, Rewrite Tricks, Scripts, server, servers, Shell, shell script, Shell Scripting, SPEED, SSI, umask, Web Hosting
Posted in Apache, Cache, Javascript, Linux Unix BSD, Shell Scripting, Web Hosting | 5 Comments »
Saturday, May 31st, 2008
DreamHost PS gives you your own “virtual machine”, protecting your CPU and RAM on your physical machine for faster websites. Here’s what I like and dislike about DreamHostPS, and some of the issues and solutions for migrating.
Tags: 500, 503, Advanced, Apache, askapache, Backups, bash, Boot, caching, compression, DNS, DreamHost, errordocument, GET, Google, grep, Htaccess, htaccess files, httpd, HTTPS SSL, Linux, Login, Logs, Nice, password, Perl, PHP, Port, Private Server, Prompt, ram, Renice, Scripts, Security, server, servers, Shell, shell script, SSH, SSI, stat, Username, Web Hosting
Posted in DreamHost, Web Hosting | 14 Comments »
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008
Mod_Security rivals Mod_Rewrite in the amount of features it provides. I decided to go ahead and post what I learned about it today, even though its tough to give away such awesome htaccess and apache tricks.. Learn how to control spam once and for all, conditionally log/deny/allow/redirect requests based on IP, username, etc.. Mod_Security is so fine!
Tags: 301 Redirect, 401, 403 Forbidden, 500, 503, admin, Ajax, Apache, apache ssl, askapache, authorization, Bandwidth, Cache, Cache-Control, caching, Cookies, debugging, DreamHost, Email, error log, errordocument, Examples, FilesMatch, GET, Hacking, Htaccess, htaccess files, htaccess guide, htaccess tricks, htaccess tutorial, Htpasswd, HTTP Headers, HTTP Status Codes, httpd, httpd.conf, HTTPS SSL, Login, Logs, Mod_Rewrite, Mod_Rewrite examples, Mod_Security, nsa, password, password protection, Perl, PHP, Port, post, Prompt, ram, Redirect, Request Method, Rewrite Tricks, rewritecond, rewriterule, Robot, robots, Scanners, Security, SEO, server, servers, SetEnvIf, Shell, SPEED, SSI, stat, trick, tutorial, Username, WordPress
Posted in Apache, Apache Modules, DreamHost, Featured, Htaccess, Security, Web Hosting, Webmaster | 8 Comments »
Thursday, April 10th, 2008
htaccess rewrite / Mod_Rewrite Tips and Tricks is as glamorous as it sounds! htaccess rewrite mod_rewrite is just possibly one of the most useful Apache modules and features. The ability to rewrite requests internally as well as externally is extremely powerful.
Tags: 301 Redirect, 302 Redirect, 401, 403 Forbidden, Advanced, Apache, Apache Htaccess, Apache Modules, apache ssl, askapache, Bandwidth, Cache, Cache-Control, caching, cheatsheet, code snippets, CSS, Dig, errordocument, Examples, experiments, feed, FeedBurner, Firefox, Flash, GET, Hacking, hotlinking, Htaccess, htaccess guide, htaccess rewrite, htaccess tricks, htaccess tutorial, Htpasswd, HTTP Headers, httpd, httpd.conf, HTTPS SSL, Javascript, Login, Mod_Rewrite, Mod_Rewrite examples, Mod_Security, Nice, PDF, Perl, PHP, Port, Redirect, Redirecting URLS, Redirection, Request Method, Rewrite Tricks, rewritecond, rewriterule, Security, SEO, server, servers, SetEnvIf, SPEED, SSI, stat, SymLinks, trick, tutorial, WordPress
Posted in Apache, Cache, DreamHost, Featured, Htaccess, SEO, Security | 86 Comments »
Tuesday, April 1st, 2008
A WordPress plugin that caches your entire blog for WP-Cache, I love this plugin and finally released it to the public!
Tags: Advanced, Apache, askapache, AskApache Crazy Cache, Cache, Cache-Control, caching, CSS, curl, Fsockopen, GET, Htaccess, Image Sprites, Logs, Mod_Rewrite, post, Rewrite Tricks, server, SPEED, trick, WordPress
Posted in Cache, WordPress, WordPress Plugins | 21 Comments »
