Server Optimization: Increase Speed and Performance

Through server optimization, you can increase its speed and overall performance. Numerous companies use a variety of techniques to optimize their servers and ensure that they meet the functionality, availability, and accessibility requirements of their websites. The primary functions of a website are directly impacted by server optimization, but how does that work?

Below, we'll examine server optimization in detail, outlining its advantages, key methods, and crucial advice to get you started.

The Explanation of Server Optimisation

The term "server optimization" refers to a variety of techniques used to improve a server's application configuration, data processing effectiveness, speed, and overall performance. Organizations can use certain optimization techniques to construct and maintain an application delivery network that functions optimally.

Best practices for server optimization include physical hardware stabilization in the data center and server virtualization.

Why Implement Server Optimization?

Servers are crucial to the operation of a website. Every time a user visits a web page, the web server receives a request to display that page. The user will see the appropriate response after the server has processed this request. The speed and general quality of this response are determined by the performance characteristics of this server.

Simply investing in hardware with the newest features will not always enable businesses to meet customer expectations, nor will it resolve all server issues. Server optimization is crucial for this reason.

Here are five indications that a business needs server optimization:

• Their website is unresponsive, although only intermittently.

• Web pages load more slowly than they should.

• There are server issues affecting the user experience and possibly affecting sales.

• The decline in conversion rates indicates a problem with speed and/or performance.

• Certain applications (such as VoIP) have difficulty running properly.

In any of these situations, it is highly likely that the server has become overloaded and cannot perform essential operations. The website's accessibility will continue to deteriorate, and the server will be unable to handle the typical volume of traffic.

What are the most effective server optimization strategies?

Organizations can utilize a variety of server optimization strategies to increase server speed and performance. In this section, we'll examine some of the most prevalent and efficient options:

Website Caching

Caching is one of the most effective server optimization techniques. This involves storing the current version of a website on the hosting server and serving it to users until the site is updated. Since they are cached, pages do not need to send database requests each time.

Caches can be enabled in numerous places, including:

• Memory cache

• HTTP cache

• Application cache

• OpCode cache

• Virtualization

During server virtualization, the software is employed to partition a physical server into multiple virtual servers. These virtual servers are separate from each other and can run their operating systems on their own. Using server virtualization, physical servers can operate multiple operating systems and servers concurrently.

Database Optimization

Database optimization is a method for reducing the response times of database systems and enhancing the performance of a website. The databases store information in a hierarchical structure designed to facilitate the organization and extraction of content.

Content Delivery Network

A content delivery network (CDN) is a collection of servers located in different geographic locations that work together to deliver various types of online content, such as:

• Stylesheets

• Videos

• Images

• HTML pages

• JavaScript files

Currently, CDNs handle most of the web traffic from popular websites like Netflix and Facebook. With the proper configuration, CDN can also safeguard websites against common cyberattacks (e.g. ransomware or botnet attacks).

Reduce CSS and JavaScript File Sizes

Websites with numerous CSS and Javascript files generate a large number of HTTP requests whenever a user attempts to access a particular file. This can slow down a user's browser as well as the website itself.

However, reducing the number of CSS and Javascript files can boost the site's performance and speed. You can reduce the overall number of HTTP requests by separating CSS and Javascript into separate groups.

Optimize Image Sizing

Images add weight to websites and slow them down. However, they are an essential component of an engaging, visually pleasing website, whether for displaying data or showcasing products. So, what are your options?

Image optimization makes it possible to speed up a website and improve its functionality because it reduces the amount of storage space needed to store the images and lowers their overall bandwidth usage.

Use Fewer Plugins

Plugins are essential for websites because they add new third-party features that improve functionality. However, using more plugins requires more resources to optimize their performance. Your websites will begin to slow down, and you may also encounter security issues.

Thankfully, you can disable or delete non-essential plugs to improve performance and speed.

Benefiting from Prefetching

Prefetching is a common technique for reading and executing site instructions before the user initiates them. As this is assumed user behavior, the best browsers of today enable prefetching by default.

Prefetching is unquestionably advantageous, but intensive analysis of user behavior is required to ensure that assumptions are accurate. There are three primary types of prefetching available:

• Link prefetching

• Pre-rendering

• DNS prefetching

• Use Fewer Redirects

Redirects are indispensable when relocating or deleting pages. They are the most effective method for avoiding broken link issues. However, excessive redirects can result in additional HTTP requests and ultimately a performance decrease (especially for mobile users). Eliminating unnecessary redirects can significantly improve performance and speed.

Using the Best Hosting

A fast web host is essential for effective optimization. There are three types of hosting available:

• Virtual Private Servers (VPS)

• Dedicated servers

• Shared Hosting

The latter is the most popular and least expensive option. However, because you are sharing server resources with other clients, it is slower than the alternatives. As a result, VPS and dedicated servers are typically considerably faster.