[SOLVED] How to enable Gzip compression

[mowax]

Hi all,

I'm trying to enable gzip compression to speed up my site, but have not been successful so far. I read that you can do it by adding this code to .htaccess in the root directory:

# BEGIN GZIP

AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/text text/html text/plain text/xml text/css application/x-javascript application/javascript

# END GZIP

I did this and used this tool to check it had worked: http://www.gidnetwork.com/tools/gzip-test.php

... but it didn't.

Is there something I am missing? I copied my .htaccess file below, can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

# URL rewriting module activation

RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^mysite.com [NC]
RewriteRule (.*) http://www.mysite.com/$1 [R=301,L]
RewriteBase /

# URL rewriting rules
RewriteRule ^([a-zA-Z0-9-]*)/([0-9]+)\-([a-zA-Z0-9-]*)\.html(.*)$ product.php?id_product=$2$4 [L,E]
RewriteRule ^([0-9]+)\-([a-zA-Z0-9-]*)\.html(.*)$ product.php?id_product=$1$3 [L,E]
RewriteRule ^([0-9]+)\-([a-zA-Z0-9-]*)(.*)$ category.php?id_category=$1 [QSA,L,E]
RewriteRule ^content/([0-9]+)\-([a-zA-Z0-9-]*)(.*)$ cms.php?id_cms=$1 [QSA,L,E]
RewriteRule ^([0-9]+)__([a-zA-Z0-9-]*)(.*)$ supplier.php?id_supplier=$1$3 [QSA,L,E]
RewriteRule ^([0-9]+)_([a-zA-Z0-9-]*)(.*)$ manufacturer.php?id_manufacturer=$1$3 [QSA,L,E]

# Catch 404 errors
ErrorDocument 404 /404.php


# BEGIN GZIP

AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/text text/html text/plain text/xml text/css application/x-javascript application/javascript

# END GZIP

[jhnstcks]

Not sure about using htaccess, but I just asked my host to enable it and they did.

[mowax]

I asked my host about it, and they said that they don't advise about scripting issues and told me to go and look online. I've heard you can use PHP scripts to do this, but I know nothing about this.

[Pixel]

You could try:

php_value zlib.output_compression 16386

If that gives a 500 error, then your server is running PHP in CGI mode.

Your host should be really be able to tell you if compression is available, and how to turn it on.

If they're not interested (or don't know) they're probably not a good host to trust your business with.

[jhnstcks]

Your host should be really be able to tell you if compression is available, and how to turn it on.

If they're not interested (or don't know) they're probably not a good host to trust your business with.

They are probabaly just a reseller, and they dont know what they are doing....

[mowax]

@ Pixel

Thanks I will try your code, can you tell me where I enter this? I have never run a script before. I have a scripting path, but I don't know how to access it. Do I use a web browser?

@ jhnstcks

Actually its Fasthosts ('UKs Number 1 Web Host'), and I'm going to leave them for a variety of reasons. This just adds to the list.

Can anyone recommend a UK host that doesn't take your money then treat you like a deaf mother-in-law?

[jhnstcks]

@ jhnstcks

Actually its Fasthosts ('UKs Number 1 Web Host'), and I'm going to leave them for a variety of reasons. This just adds to the list.

Can anyone recommend a UK host that doesn't take your money then treat you like a deaf mother-in-law?

I use a company called scotserve.co.uk They are very good not the cheapest but not the most expensive either but they are very reliable and quick. I pay £15+VAT for unmetered bandwidth, unlimited domains, email addresses and databases. My only limitation is my disk space is 2gb of space. But I am running 2 live shops, a blog, and a couple of test sites and I stlil havent used half of my disk space. They also run a server specifically for Prestashop, as some php versions don't work too well with it.

If you are interested email them at sales(at)scotserve(dot)co(dot)uk and tell him I sent you.

[Pixel]

It goes in your .htaccess file. If you don't know what that is (or don't have access to it) then you need to do a bit of finding-out and reading-up before you put a shop online.

Don't ever consider any 'host' who promises you 'unlimited' top-quality-all-you-can-eat for a dollar or three a month - it won't happen.

A well-maintained server, disk space, bandwidth and (especially) good pro-active 24/7 support cost money.

If you're serious about running a shop as a business (rather than a hobby), get yourself a good host with good support.

And - consequently - expect to pay a good amount.

[scotserve]

Firstly thanks John for a glowing report

Now, you have to understand there is a difference between mod_deflate and mod_gzip
It depends on what version of Apache you are running assuming you are not on an IIS server, mod_gzip for Apache 1.* and mode_deflate for Apache 2.*
This needs to be compiled into Apache so no amount of adding it to .htaccess files will make any difference if the host does not have it compiled - at this point I would point out that the stock out the box of Apache 2.* does not have mod_deflate installed.

Another point to consider is that many hosts will not allow you to override PHP values via .htaccess directives as this could be considered a security risk.
So adding "php_value zlib.output_compression 16386" to your .htaccess file assumes two things one is that zlib is compiled into php in the first place and secondly that they are allowing php values to be overridden

Overall you need to know what you are running on, what is compiled and available before you mess about with .htaccess files. Interestingly though the actual question is a hosting one IMO and is not something that should be fobbed off as a "script issue"

[mowax]

Adding the suggested bits to the .htaccess file gives a 500 error, and having asked the host again they have now told me that gzip compression is not available on their shared hosting server. Guess its time to move on from fasthosts, thanks for all suggestions and recommendations.

[mowax]

For anyone with this problem, I fixed it by installing a php.ini file through my control panel and changing the settings in there.

[valentin]

OVH

Désolé, le mod_gzip n'est pas disponible sur les hébergement mutualisé.

Le module zip est activé sur php, ce module permet de gérer des fichiers archives sur votre espace web.

[curtdonohue]

In conjunction with Nethercott Constructions (rocky), I just completed a 2-part video that addresses enabling GZIP compression and browser caching in versions 1.4.x and 1.3.x. You can find the video at http://www.prestatraining.com/gzip-compression-browser-caching/. Notwithstanding issues from your host, this video should help, especially with version 1.3.x.

[ALMAJ]

How can I enable compression to themes/default/cache?
this is what i get from PageSpeed Insights and gtmetrix.com:

Compressing the following resources with gzip could reduce their transfer size by 247.8KiB (73% reduction).

• Compressing http://www.tekcenter...894ca5515689.jscould save 152.2KiB (69% reduction).
• Compressinghttp://www.tekcenter...b9d80ce_all.css could save 80.7KiB (82% reduction).
• Compressing http://www.tekcenter...pluginDetect.js could save 14.9KiB (65% reduction).

My prestashop version is: 1.5.6.2 (Default theme)

 

my current .htaccess code is this:

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
<IfModule mod_env.c>
SetEnv HTTP_MOD_REWRITE On
</IfModule>

RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.tekcenter.pt$
RewriteRule . - [E=REWRITEBASE:/store/]
RewriteRule ^api/?(.*)$ %{ENV:REWRITEBASE}webservice/dispatcher.php?url= [QSA,L]

# Images
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.tekcenter.pt$
RewriteRule ^([0-9])(\-[_a-zA-Z0-9-]*)?(-[0-9]+)?/.+\.jpg$ %{ENV:REWRITEBASE}img/p//jpg [L]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.tekcenter.pt$
RewriteRule ^([0-9])([0-9])(\-[_a-zA-Z0-9-]*)?(-[0-9]+)?/.+\.jpg$ %{ENV:REWRITEBASE}img/p///jpg [L]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.tekcenter.pt$
RewriteRule ^([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])(\-[_a-zA-Z0-9-]*)?(-[0-9]+)?/.+\.jpg$ %{ENV:REWRITEBASE}img/p////$1jpg [L]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.tekcenter.pt$
RewriteRule ^([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])(\-[_a-zA-Z0-9-]*)?(-[0-9]+)?/.+\.jpg$ %{ENV:REWRITEBASE}img/p////$4/$1jpg [L]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.tekcenter.pt$
RewriteRule ^([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])(\-[_a-zA-Z0-9-]*)?(-[0-9]+)?/.+\.jpg$ %{ENV:REWRITEBASE}img/p////$4/$5/$1jpg [L]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.tekcenter.pt$
RewriteRule ^([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])(\-[_a-zA-Z0-9-]*)?(-[0-9]+)?/.+\.jpg$ %{ENV:REWRITEBASE}img/p////$4/$5/$6/$1jpg [L]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.tekcenter.pt$
RewriteRule ^([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])(\-[_a-zA-Z0-9-]*)?(-[0-9]+)?/.+\.jpg$ %{ENV:REWRITEBASE}img/p////$4/$5/$6/$7/$1jpg [L]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.tekcenter.pt$
RewriteRule ^([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])([0-9])(\-[_a-zA-Z0-9-]*)?(-[0-9]+)?/.+\.jpg$ %{ENV:REWRITEBASE}img/p////$4/$5/$6/$7/$8/$1jpg [L]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.tekcenter.pt$
RewriteRule ^c/([0-9]+)(\-[\.*_a-zA-Z0-9-]*)(-[0-9]+)?/.+\.jpg$ %{ENV:REWRITEBASE}img/c/jpg [L]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.tekcenter.pt$
RewriteRule ^c/([a-zA-Z_-]+)(-[0-9]+)?/.+\.jpg$ %{ENV:REWRITEBASE}img/c/jpg [L]
# AlphaImageLoader for IE and fancybox
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.tekcenter.pt$
RewriteRule ^images_ie/?([^/]+)\.(jpe?g|png|gif)$ js/jquery/plugins/fancybox/images/ [L]

# Dispatcher
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -s [OR]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -l [OR]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.tekcenter.pt$
RewriteRule ^.*$ - [NC,L]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.tekcenter.pt$
RewriteRule ^.*$ %{ENV:REWRITEBASE}index.php [NC,L]
</IfModule>


<IfModule mod_expires.c>
ExpiresActive On
ExpiresByType image/gif "access plus 1 month"
ExpiresByType image/jpeg "access plus 1 month"
ExpiresByType image/png "access plus 1 month"
ExpiresByType text/css "access plus 1 week"
ExpiresByType text/javascript "access plus 1 week"
ExpiresByType application/javascript "access plus 1 week"
ExpiresByType application/x-javascript "access plus 1 week"
ExpiresByType image/x-icon "access plus 1 year"
</IfModule>


FileETag INode MTime Size
<IfModule mod_deflate.c>
<IfModule mod_filter.c>
AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/html text/css text/javascript application/javascript application/x-javascript
</IfModule>
</IfModule>  

Best regards.

Edited February 25, 2014 by majority (see edit history)