Web Server Optimization
The following is a jumbled list of things to keep in mind when optimizing websites: HTTP Server Configuration
- On HTTP Compression
- See the HTML5 boilerplate .htaccess file
Free Web Server Performance Scanning Services
- GTmetrix cleanly shows areas of improvement, grades, and offers detailed suggestions for improvement based on your code.
- PingDom offers a free slick website performance analysis tool
- Web Page Test gives a detailed list, waterfall charts, and a nice summary of your server's performance
- Google Page Speed Insights provides a list of issues and remedies. It also provides a separate performance score for mobile and desktop
- MXtoolbox will check your server for multiple web/mail/dns issues
Use a fast VPS:
- Digital Ocean
- Server Bear offers a great way to search VPS offerings, filtering on your own criteria
Use a CDN:
- Soft Layer/Edgecast
- CDN Planet reviews many CDNs and allows you to compare any two
Use a fast DNS server:
- NameCheap is an efficient and popular service that's quite affordable
- DNS Comparison compares 10 of the more popular managed DNS services
- DNS Reviews talks about all the various DNS performance issues and provides response time list that's updated daily
- CloudHarmony has an independent review of some of the top managed DNS providers
- CatchPoint has a blog talking about some DNS options
- Amazon Route 53 is a fast and affordable managed DNS solution. Their cheapest offering works out to $1/month.