How to Set Up Google PageSpeed Module on Apache for Faster Websites | CentOS 8 Tutorial
The PageSpeed module is designed to optimize the web server and speed up its response. In this tutorial, we will set up the Google PageSpeed module in Apache on CentOS 8. First, you need to have a CentOS 8 server with the Apache web server installed.
In the Serverspace you can create a server with already installed app "Apache".
Downloading and installing the Google PageSpeed module
To install the Google PageSpeed module, you need the at and wget packages.
Download Google PageSpeed package for Apache.
Install the PageSpeed module itself.
Restart Apache.
Set up the Google PageSpeed module
At this point, the PageSpeed module is already working together on the Apache web server. You can change the optimization settings. To do this, open the file:
It is worth changing the settings only if you understand well what you are doing. The module is set to optimal values by default. Here are some examples of settings. To disable the PageSpeed module, find ModPagespeed and change its value to off.
You can change the cache storage path. It is specified in the following parameter:
And the path for storing logs:
If you have made any changes to the settings, restart Apache.
Accessing the PageSpeed web interface
The PageSpeed module has its own web interface that displays statistics and information on settings. By default, access to the web interface is allowed only from the local server. To change this setting, open the file again:
Find the following section almost at the very end of the file:
Add a new Allow from directive with the IP address or subnet from which you want to access the web interface:
...
Allow from 10.5.5.0/24
...
</Location>
Restart Apache.
Now enter the following address in your browser, replacing “Server-IP” with your server's address.
Conclusion
The Google PageSpeed module is a powerful tool that helps optimize your Apache web server on CentOS 8, improving website loading speed and overall performance. By following this step-by-step guide, you can easily install and configure the module to take advantage of its built-in optimizations. Remember that the default settings are already optimized for most use cases, but you can customize cache paths, logging, and access to the web interface as needed. Regularly monitoring the PageSpeed interface will help you maintain an efficient and fast web server.
FAQ
- Q: What is the Google PageSpeed module?
A: It is an open-source Apache module designed to automatically optimize web content and improve server response times. - Q: Do I need to restart Apache after installing or changing settings?
A: Yes, any changes to the module or its configuration require restarting Apache for them to take effect. - Q: Can I access the PageSpeed web interface remotely?
A: By default, access is limited to the local server, but you can configure allowed IP addresses or subnets in the pagespeed.conf file. - Q: Is it safe to change the default PageSpeed settings?
A: It is recommended to modify settings only if you fully understand their impact, as improper changes may affect website performance. - Q: What if I want to disable the PageSpeed module temporarily?
A: You can disable it by setting ModPagespeed off in the configuration file and restarting Apache.