Why is Pligg slow even with gzip compression?

[Daniel]

I properly enabled it on my server through SSH (fix).

I also tested it with .htaccess.

It still dead slow.

I am using digitalnature template (yget is only a bit faster).

What the heck is going on? Don't just tell me it's server, because it's not.

My site is

1. properly gzipped through httpd.conf http://www.whatsmyip.org/mod_gzip_test/
2. properly gzipped through .htaccess (same speed even when gzip compression through .htaccess is not enabled)
3. dead slow http://www.websiteoptimization.com/services/analyze/

56K 47.46 seconds
ISDN 128K 25.77 seconds
T1 1.44Mbps 17.03 seconds


What the heck is wrong?

[daone]

the same here,

using gzip, and latest svn code, DN temlate (moded)

Connection Rate Download Time
14.4K 104.55 seconds
28.8K 58.37 seconds
33.6K 51.78 seconds
56K 35.95 seconds
ISDN 128K 19.47 seconds
T1 1.44Mbps 12.83 seconds

couple days ago(6-7days) was much better, like ~3 sec on T1, i dont now what is wrong now, gzip is working

im only updating code from svn day by day, no new images/script added- all the time the same things

maybe it's something wrong with Web Site Optimization
WebSiteOptimization.com?:p

[kbeeveer46]

You guys realize that those tests aren't perfect? There could be something wrong with the server that the test is running on. If it was fine a few days ago why all the sudden would it be so bad now? You guys need to calm down. Daniel, please do not make 15 threads about the same thing and then PM and email us every time you make a thread.

EDIT: I just tested a random site that is using the latest build and I don't even know if gzip is enabled

Connection Rate Download Time
14.4K 81.49 seconds
28.8K 44.75 seconds
33.6K 39.50 seconds
56K 26.90 seconds
ISDN 128K 13.79 seconds
T1 1.44Mbps 8.50 seconds

I think that's proof that the problem comes down to your server, which I thought we already concluded in the other gzip threads you made. I don't know why you guys put so much faith into those speed tests when it says it takes 17 secs to load your site on a t1 connection. When you go to your site does it really take 17 seconds to load??? I doubt it.

[kiyosagi]

I absolutely agree with what Kbee said, there's really no point kicking up a big fuss over this. Your website certainly did not take more than 5 seconds on my sub-standard connection. I ran digg.com for analysis and it wasn't way better than any site despite having all its dedicated servers.

To really substantiate your claim, I make a suggestion that you run the test with your GZIP codes on and another time with your GZIP codes off. That way you can tell us how GZIP helped or how GZIP barely optimized the load time of the site.

[kbeeveer46]

Okay, just because you guys keep claiming that gzip isn't working etc etc I went ahead and did more tests. Check them out below

20 stories, JS + CSS Gzip enabled

14.4K 94.36 seconds
28.8K 49.48 seconds
33.6K 43.07 seconds
56K 27.68 seconds
ISDN 128K 11.67 seconds
T1 1.44Mbps 5.21 seconds


20 stories, JS + CSS Gzip disabled

14.4K 163.37 seconds
28.8K 83.99 seconds
33.6K 72.65 seconds
56K 45.43 seconds
ISDN 128K 17.10 seconds
T1 1.44Mbps 5.69 seconds

Even though the T1 speed says 5 seconds there's no way it takes 5 seconds to load for me. It's almost instant. Even though I've already done these tests in that huge "performance" thread you made Daniel I just wanted to do it again to conclude that it's most likely not gzip that is your problem, it's more likely the server. I don't think this speed test is as accurate as it used to be because if you looked in the other thread you would notice that I had it down to 10 seconds for 56k and .4 for T1.

[kbeeveer46]

I forgot to enable the other gzip method in the .htaccess file and it shaved off even more time

20 stories, Both methods of Gzip enabled

14.4K 46.00 seconds
28.8K 25.30 seconds
33.6K 22.34 seconds
56K 15.25 seconds
ISDN 128K 7.86 seconds
T1 1.44Mbps 4.88 seconds

[sanch]

Another good test is to take you site (files and db) to another server as a test... Even a shared... What happens?

[kbeeveer46]

Another good way to decrease load times is to get rid of the "Add to:" section. All those images are loaded for each story on your page. So if you have 5 of those images and 10 stories on your front page it's loading 50 images. I tested it and it shaved even more time off.

[Daniel]

Kbeeveer46 has a point. My posts can be construed as annoying. But let's not forget that this is still beta testing phase, and I am just trying to point out that some things still not work properly. I am not trying to devaluate Pligg, which I like very much. All I am trying to do is make sure that we find solution and bring default page loading speed to 3 to 3.5 sec on DSL (1.5MB/sec), and hopefully not more than 7-8 sec on lower speed.

Originally Posted by sanch

Another good test is to take you site (files and db) to another server as a test... Even a shared... What happens?

On a shared server, I did a test - roughly same the speed with digitalnature template. What I found is that yget template is much faster, take a look:

56K 34.44 seconds
ISDN 128K 17.07 seconds
T1 1.44Mbps 10.07 seconds

Now if you compare these results with above (digitalnature) results, you will see the difference.

[en3r0]

I may be pointing out something useless, but don't forget that

1. Server location is an issue
2. To restart apache after you edit httpd.conf

Just friendly reminders.