GZIP Speed and Compression (It Works!)

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2004 8:06 pm

PART I - The Truth

Some ppl seem to think, "GZIP compression doesn't work with Nuke. Why even try?"

Read and heed the results for my site, using the Desilva test:

85% reduction! "How about the forums? Certainly compression won't work with phpBB!"

83% reduction! "But.. but... I run Coppermine. Pictures are already compressed, right?"

87% reduction! "But.. but... but... huh?"

Leknor Test:

PhiliWeb Test:

PipeBoost Test:

May I suggest you go check your site for GZIP compression? Wink

Here are some links where you can test it...

http://www.desilva.biz/gzip-test.php

http://leknor.com/code/gziped.php

http://www.philiweb.com/accueil.php?pn=utile/testgzip.php

http://www.pipeboost.com/report.asp

To the naysayers amongst us:

Go check my site ( www.lenon.com ) using these widely accepted and highly recommended 'industry standard' GZIP compression checkers before posting here. That might change your mind[s] on this topic in advance. Cool

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2004 10:50 pm

PART II - The Forrest Gump Code
" Life is like a box o' chocolates..."

Here's what I do...

Replace this code at the top of 'mainfile.php':

Code:

(snip)

$phpver = phpversion();
if ($phpver >= '4.0.4pl1' && strstr($HTTP_USER_AGENT,'compatible')) {
if (extension_loaded('zlib')) {
ob_end_clean();
ob_start('ob_gzhandler');
}
} else if ($phpver > '4.0') {
if (strstr($HTTP_SERVER_VARS['HTTP_ACCEPT_ENCODING'], 'gzip')) {
if (extension_loaded('zlib')) {
$do_gzip_compress = TRUE;
ob_start();
ob_implicit_flush(0);
//header('Content-Encoding: gzip');
}
}
}

(snip)

...with:

Code:

(snip)

$phpver = phpversion();
if ($phpver >= '4.0.4pl1')
{
ob_start('ob_gzhandler');
}else if ($phpver > '4.0'){
if (strstr($HTTP_SERVER_VARS['HTTP_ACCEPT_ENCODING'], 'gzip')){
if (extension_loaded('zlib')){
$do_gzip_compress = TRUE;
ob_start();
ob_implicit_flush(0);
}
}
}

(snip)

"Stupid is as Stupid does, Sir...

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2004 11:07 pm

EPILOGUE

Henrick wrote:

Hi there..

I figured this might be the best forum to post this in. I noticed you using the gentime add-on here on lenon.com. I saw a post over at nukecops from you talking about some modifications you were possibly making to it. Are you going to ever make available a VinDSLfied version? The reason I ask is that I really like this add-on and would love to see if updated, not that its not working of course. Smile

Thanks,

-Henrick

VinDSL wrote:

Hi, Henrick,

Yes, I'll be releasing this hack in the future, but I'm not sure what direction it will take at this juncture.

I'm trying to tie this into a GZIP compression model for Nuke websites; however there seems to be a lot of resistance to this idea because of failures by others to accomplish this in the past. I think I've come up with a simple solution to this brouhaha, but the jury is still out, so to speak.

So, it's yet to be seen if I will be able convince enough ppl to make this a worthwhile goal. I believe it is, but one never knows until they try; you know?

To give you an idea of where I'm going with all this, check out this developing thread on NukeCops:

http://www.nukecops.com/postlite20851-.html

I suspect I am about to be 'jumped on' by the Nuke community with 'both feet', if the past is any indication, but we'll see... Wink

The whole reason for implementing the gentime code on this website was part of the master plan, so I hope you can appreciate where I'm 'coming from' on this. If nothing else, I will release the gentime hack separate from the compression code, but I'm not willing to give up on the larger ideal yet... Twisted Evil

Henrick wrote:

Thanks for the response. Wow.. I had never used gzip as I have always read it was bad.. you don't need it, it doesn't make a difference yada yada yada.. but I have to say I turned it on.. and it makes a world of difference. I actually turned on it because of another post I read on Nuke Cops, which I believe you were on, where a test site was posted to run against a site after enabling gzip. You posted your workaround and a ton of comments and off I went. Smile

I can see where people are coming from on the compatibility thing but there seems to be always something you can do to work around things like this.. I seem to remember when frame pages were super popular a really long time ago and the push back then was 'certain browsers dont handle it correctly' well they worked around those things and it can be done here as well. I know thats probably a poor example but a simple comparision. Smile

As for the gentime code.. Good to hear it and Im looking forward to it. Im in no hurry mind you, just thought I would ask, but considering the other work you have done on themes and MS Analysis blocks Im sure its worth the wait.

Take care and good luck

Sergeant Joined: Dec 19, 2003 Posts: 105

As previously said, doing header tests alone can give fake results on gzip tests. It does little good if your server sends the correct headers but does not compress the files before sending. If you want to prove your point, then why not post undoctored before and after log entries for everything on each page. This will show if there really is a bandwidth savings and by how much.

FYI, there isn't many ways to check a header. Posting from different sites which are using the same techniques doesn't lend any more credibility to your argument. It's very easy to create one of these so called "'industry standard' GZIP compression checkers". All they do is show the headers are being sent out correctly and use some math to figure out the savings. Why don't you post your logs to show everything on those pages actually went out 83%+ compressed. Use only pages from Nuke though not PhpBB or Coppermine. You may be in for a surprise.

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 1:12 am

erm, correct me if I'm wrong here, but I thought that nuke utilises gzip as standard if available on your server??

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 2:38 am

kipuka wrote:

...It's very easy to create one of these so called "'industry standard' GZIP compression checkers". All they do is show the headers are being sent out correctly and use some math to figure out the savings...

Cool, kipuka! How about about pointing me toward some of that code? I'd like to put a GZIP compression checker on my site. An HTML checker, like Philippe uses would be nice. I don't care about measuring external files (images,etc)...

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 2:51 am

badger wrote:

erm, correct me if I'm wrong here, but I thought that nuke utilises gzip as standard if available on your server??

You're probably correct, but the original code never worked for me. Does it work for you?

EDIT: LoL! Never mind, badger. I just checked your site and it's compressed. I guess it must have worked for you...

Nuke Cadet Joined: Dec 04, 2003 Posts: 5

It works but sometimes I have problem in forum an any other module... Rolling Eyes

Could'nt compression be actived by module? Question

Support Mod Joined: Mar 19, 2003 Posts: 308

I applied your trick, noticed some faster loads Cool

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 6:31 am

Is that all you have to do to get gzip to work?

WHen I did the test from the test site above it said my site was gzipped...

Nuke Cops Founder Joined: Nov 14, 2002 Posts: 5939

GZip is a very big component to increasing speed including other external things to php-nuke like zend optimizer, and mod_expires (for image caching).

Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 9:56 pm

So let me bring this topic back up. Does this feature helps the site or no? I have noticed (using those URLs) that NC does not use GZIP compression.

Sergeant Joined: Mar 04, 2003 Posts: 118

Nevermind.... I am an idiot!
I guess I should learn to read *LOL*

Thanks Vin for the info!

Dss

Corporal Joined: Nov 30, 2003 Posts: 56

FYI, I did a writeup on site compression and caching a couple months ago. In it I demonstrated both the ability to GZIP compress every page on my PHP-Nuke site, in addition to caching them server-side. I also showed how block content could be cached, to further speed site responsiveness.

The methodology was marginally different from what you employed, and I can't take full credit for it. Someone else came up with the concepts for each type of compression, which I then simply extrapolated to other areas of a Nuke site (Forums, Content, etc). Even though my site is on a shared hosting server, the page sizes and responsiveness are incredibly nice. Give it a visit at http://wow.adeptshaven.com to check it out, or run any of my site's links through any compression/site checker.

I'm fairly certain the post I made is still out here somewhere - pretty sure I also put it up on http://www.portedmods.com and maybe even http://phpnuke-uk.net/.

If anyone has trouble with implementing VinDSL's method and can't seem to find what I posted after a good search, let me know out here and I'll see if I can dig up all the specifics. Regardless, it's nice to hear your solution works for you on your pages VinDSL.

EDIT: A nice site verification tool that I use frequently, can be found at: http://www.WebPageAnalyzer.com

Corporal Joined: Nov 30, 2003 Posts: 56

For reference, my post in December about how to accomplish a fully compressed, cached, and fast PHP-Nuke site:

http://www.nukecops.com/postt17194.html