ExpressionEngine is a Content Management System (CMS) that enables users to create, edit, and publish content to a website easily. It is a robust platform suitable for a wide range of websites, including blogs, ecommerce sites, and corporate websites.

Many businesspeople wonder How does a CDN work to speed up your ecommerce site? but they will discover that the reasons are remarkably straightforward. Review the content and resources in the article linked above to learn more about those reasons in full detail.

Updating ExpressionEngine CMS to use the Nexcess Edge CDN will enhance the performance of this terrific CMS platform for your online store or other digital presence on the Internet.

Overview of the ExpressionEngine CMS

One of the key features of ExpressionEngine is its customizability. The platform allows users to create custom fields for their content, such as images, videos, and other media. This feature enables users to create precise and targeted content for their websites.

In addition to custom fields, ExpressionEngine also offers a range of templates for defining the layout and design of a website. These templates can be customized using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which enables users to create a unique and visually appealing website.

Another vital feature of ExpressionEngine is its addons. The platform has an extensive library of addons, including plugins, modules, and extensions, that can be used to extend the platform’s functionality. These addons can be used to add new features and functionality to a website, such as ecommerce capabilities, forums, and social media integration.

ExpressionEngine has built-in security mechanisms to assist in guarding against hackers and other risks in addition to its customizability and expansion options. The platform also has capabilities for managing users, which allow administrators the ability to set up user accounts and restrict editing access.

All things considered, ExpressionEngine is a strong and adaptable CMS that can be used for a variety of websites. It is a flexible platform for creating and administering your sites thanks to its customization and expansion options, as well as its security and user control tools.

How to configure the ExpressionEngine CMS to use the Nexcess CDN

Creating a plan with Nexcess web hosting and integrating the Expression Engine application is a simple process that allows you to create and manage your website in a straightforward manner. The steps to follow are outlined in the next sections.

Log in to my.nexcess.net.
Once you have logged in, click on Plans from the menu of options on the left side of screen followed by the Create Plan button on the right side of screen:
Then, you will need to evaluate the hosting plan type and size that best fits your needs. Shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated servers are among the broad range of hosting options provided by Liquid Web and Nexcess.

With regard to the managed applications available to Nexcess customers, including the Expression Engine application, as you begin the application selection process, having in your frame of reference which plan size delivers the features and resources you want is an important consideration.

Next, you will want to evaluate the various options under the following primary application categories:

Ecommerce
Content Management
CRM

For the purposes of this article, once you have identified a ExpressionEngine hosting plan size for later in the setup process, you will need to choose the Expression Engine application for your plan.

Expression Engine is a popular CMS that allows you to build and manage your website intuitively. To select the Expression Engine application, simply locate the corresponding menu entry under the Content Management heading in the picklist and select Expression Engine from the list of available options:

After selecting the Expression Engine application, you will need to choose the size of your plan.

Nexcess offers a range of plan sizes to choose from, depending on your needs and the size of your website. For example, you can select a smaller plan if you have a smaller website with lower traffic or a larger plan if you have a more prominent website with higher traffic:

Once you have selected the Expression Engine application and the size of your plan, your Nexcess web hosting plan is ready for Nexcess CDN configuration.

By integrating Nexcess CDN with your web hosting plan, you can improve the performance and speed of your website for users located in geographically disparate locations around the world:

Configuring your .htaccess file with the following example ruleset and tailor this to your specific CDN hostname:

RewriteCond%{REQUEST_FILENAME} .(gif|png|jpg|jpeg|css|js)$ [NC]
RewriteCond%{HTTP:X-Host} !^eadn-wc01-5822490.nxedge.io$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://eadn-wc01-5822490.nxedge.io/cdn/$1 [L,R=301]

Kind in mind that the best practice for adding the mentioned rules is to the top of your .htaccess file. We can then add the below files-related snippet right after the CDN hostname snippet:

<FilesMatch ".(gif|png|jpg|jpeg|css|js)$">
ExpiresActiveOn
ExpiresDefault"access plus 1 week"
FileETag none

Conclusion

In conclusion, Nexcess is an excellent option to consider for managed website hosting with feature-rich managed applications built in the overall solution. Nexcess provides a range of hosting services, including dedicated servers, cloud hosting, and managed hosting, all of which are optimized for ExpressionEngine.

With Nexcess, you can take advantage of our in-house expertise and resources to ensure that your website is always up and running while also benefiting from our solid foundation in the areas of security and speed.

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