MediaTemple started pimping CloudFlare months ago, and I passed on it until today when I got an email announcing that it became a free service. I figured I’d give it a shot, and less than an hour later I’m impressed enough to write a post and share my early review with both my readers.
I host several projects on MediaTemple DV plans for the stability, flexibility, and top-notch support. (I’d rather not be troubleshooting server issues for clients at 3AM.) You can certainly use CloudFlare without MediaTemple hosting, they’ve just made it a one-step add-on service that you’d have to be a drooling idiot to mess up. I warily enabled the service for a static site, which involved signing up for a free account (email address, password) and enabling the service in MediaTemple’s control panel. A CNAME record was automatically created in the DNS settings, and that’s it.
I visited said site and it had an immediately-noticable zing. Excitedly, I added the service to workingconcept.com to see how CloudFlare would cripple the ExpressionEngine setup. I was sure it’d fail and I’d have to revert, but I tried it anyway. I was blown away – CloudFlare seemed to have absolutely no effect but to dramatically speed up page delivery. Below is my non-scientific evaluation…
just-ping.com results, before CloudFlare (MediaTemple DV4.0, Virginia datacenter)
| Location | min. rrt | avg. rrt | max. rrt | IP |
| Singapore, Singapore: | 262.2 | 270.5 | 286.5 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Amsterdam2, Netherlands: | 84.7 | 85.1 | 87.5 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Florida, U.S.A.: | 25.9 | 26.0 | 26.2 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Amsterdam3, Netherlands: | 84.4 | 85.2 | 90.5 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Hong Kong, China: | 233.3 | 235.8 | 237.3 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Sydney, Australia: | 233.8 | 234.0 | 234.2 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Munchen, Germany: | 96.4 | 96.5 | 96.7 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Cologne, Germany: | 86.6 | 86.7 | 86.7 | 72.10.32.198 |
| New York, U.S.A.: | 10.0 | 10.1 | 10.2 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Amsterdam1, Netherlands: | 88.6 | 88.6 | 88.7 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Stockholm, Sweden: | 118.6 | 118.7 | 118.8 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Santa Clara, U.S.A.: | 88.2 | 88.7 | 89.2 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Vancouver, Canada: | 87.7 | 87.9 | 88.2 | 72.10.32.198 |
| London, United Kingdom: | 78.5 | 79.0 | 79.3 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Madrid, Spain: | 132.1 | 150.2 | 167.5 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Padova, Italy: | 107.3 | 107.7 | 109.0 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Austin, U.S.A.: | 58.1 | 58.3 | 58.6 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Amsterdam, Netherlands: | 85.6 | 85.7 | 85.9 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Paris, France: | 98.8 | 99.0 | 99.1 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Melbourne, Australia: | 254.3 | 255.1 | 256.4 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Shanghai, China: | 208.2 | 208.5 | 208.7 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Copenhagen, Denmark: | 108.1 | 108.2 | 108.4 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Lille, France: | 82.4 | 86.8 | 93.1 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Zurich, Switzerland: | 108.5 | 108.7 | 109.1 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Mumbai, India: | 192.6 | 203.0 | 227.3 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Chicago, U.S.A.: | 32.3 | 32.4 | 32.9 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Nagano, Japan: | 177.3 | 177.3 | 177.5 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Haifa, Israel: | 149.6 | 150.9 | 153.3 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Auckland, New Zealand: | 200.2 | 205.7 | 218.4 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Antwerp, Belgium: | 92.4 | 92.5 | 92.8 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Groningen, Netherlands: | 87.7 | 88.0 | 88.7 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Moscow, Russia: | 136.4 | 136.6 | 136.9 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Dublin, Ireland: | 97.6 | 97.6 | 97.7 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Oslo, Norway: | 112.6 | 115.2 | 136.7 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Kharkov, Ukraine: | 156.0 | 156.4 | 160.0 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Manchester, United Kingdom: | 80.1 | 80.4 | 82.2 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Vilnius, Lithuania: | 119.1 | 119.3 | 119.6 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Bucharest, Romania: | 132.8 | 133.0 | 133.2 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: | 253.4 | 253.7 | 254.0 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Jakarta, Indonesia: | 283.9 | 284.7 | 290.6 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Cape Town, South Africa: | 226.1 | 226.2 | 226.3 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Glasgow, United Kingdom: | 85.4 | 86.8 | 97.6 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Lisbon, Portugal: | 117.6 | 117.7 | 117.7 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Chicago, U.S.A.: | 31.3 | 31.4 | 31.5 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Dallas, U.S.A.: | 35.5 | 35.7 | 36.1 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Buenos Aires, Argentina: | 156.6 | 156.9 | 157.2 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Istanbul, Turkey: | 137.5 | 137.7 | 138.1 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Gdansk, Poland: | 114.5 | 116.2 | 128.9 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Beijing, China: | 295.4 | 307.4 | 314.7 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Belgrade, Serbia: | 113.8 | 118.4 | 137.8 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Toronto, Canada: | 22.5 | 22.8 | 23.1 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Novosibirsk, Russia: | 190.3 | 191.3 | 192.1 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Athens, Greece: | 135.3 | 135.7 | 136.9 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Frankfurt, Germany: | 92.5 | 93.4 | 94.9 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Sofia, Bulgaria: | 118.4 | 118.8 | 119.4 | 72.10.32.198 |
| Budapest, Hungary: | 109.8 | 114.0 | 127.4 | 72.10.32.198 |
just-ping.com results, with CloudFlare
| Location | min. rrt | avg. rrt | max. rrt | IP |
| Singapore, Singapore: | 176.3 | 186.3 | 193.1 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Amsterdam2, Netherlands: | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Florida, U.S.A.: | 26.7 | 27.0 | 27.5 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Amsterdam3, Netherlands: | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Hong Kong, China: | 2.1 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Sydney, Australia: | 157.2 | 157.6 | 158.4 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Munchen, Germany: | 19.1 | 19.3 | 20.0 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Cologne, Germany: | 4.8 | 5.1 | 5.3 | 173.245.60.113 |
| New York, U.S.A.: | 4.9 | 5.1 | 5.3 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Amsterdam1, Netherlands: | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Stockholm, Sweden: | 24.6 | 25.0 | 25.5 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Santa Clara, U.S.A.: | 3.5 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Vancouver, Canada: | 75.4 | 76.3 | 77.8 | 173.245.60.113 |
| London, United Kingdom: | 10.3 | 10.7 | 11.0 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Madrid, Spain: | 34.6 | 38.4 | 49.1 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Padova, Italy: | 26.1 | 32.1 | 57.8 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Austin, U.S.A.: | 29.7 | 29.9 | 30.0 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Amsterdam, Netherlands: | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Paris, France: | 90.5 | 91.0 | 91.9 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Melbourne, Australia: | 123.9 | 124.8 | 126.3 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Shanghai, China: | 267.0 | 273.3 | 278.1 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Copenhagen, Denmark: | 15.6 | 16.5 | 17.3 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Lille, France: | 17.2 | 26.8 | 33.1 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Zurich, Switzerland: | 14.5 | 14.8 | 15.2 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Mumbai, India: | 76.4 | 77.0 | 77.7 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Chicago, U.S.A.: | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Nagano, Japan: | 6.0 | 6.1 | 6.4 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Haifa, Israel: | 91.1 | 96.7 | 100.4 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Auckland, New Zealand: | 149.9 | 150.1 | 150.4 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Antwerp, Belgium: | 11.0 | 11.3 | 11.8 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Groningen, Netherlands: | 4.4 | 5.0 | 5.6 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Moscow, Russia: | 46.4 | 46.7 | 47.1 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Dublin, Ireland: | 18.7 | 18.9 | 19.3 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Oslo, Norway: | 32.0 | 32.2 | 32.6 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Kharkov, Ukraine: | 104.0 | 104.4 | 108.0 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Manchester, United Kingdom: | 13.2 | 13.8 | 14.4 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Vilnius, Lithuania: | 36.5 | 37.4 | 42.1 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Bucharest, Romania: | 35.2 | 36.1 | 41.9 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: | 195.6 | 196.1 | 197.1 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Jakarta, Indonesia: | 48.6 | 48.9 | 49.3 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Cape Town, South Africa: | 231.4 | 231.7 | 232.1 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Glasgow, United Kingdom: | 20.7 | 20.9 | 21.3 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Lisbon, Portugal: | 58.8 | 59.1 | 59.5 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Chicago, U.S.A.: | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Dallas, U.S.A.: | 1.3 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Buenos Aires, Argentina: | 152.6 | 153.2 | 156.3 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Istanbul, Turkey: | 38.8 | 39.2 | 39.7 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Gdansk, Poland: | 42.0 | 42.2 | 42.7 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Beijing, China: | 377.7 | 393.9 | 406.0 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Belgrade, Serbia: | 32.8 | 39.9 | 63.2 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Toronto, Canada: | 13.8 | 13.9 | 14.2 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Novosibirsk, Russia: | 99.4 | 99.9 | 100.4 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Athens, Greece: | 66.5 | 67.1 | 70.8 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Frankfurt, Germany: | 13.6 | 14.3 | 15.3 | 173.245.60.113 |
| Sofia, Bulgaria: | 39.1 | 39.2 | 39.4 | 173.245.60.40 |
| Budapest, Hungary: | 29.8 | 32.7 | 50.5 | 173.245.60.40 |
As you can see, ping times were easily improved across the board. Remember that this is less than an hour after enabling the service.
Pingdom Full Page Test
I use Pingdom to monitor my own website and client web apps, and they’ve got all kinds of great tools. Here I used the Full Page Test to compare page load time. This test loads an entire page and basically gives you an overview of the process: how long it takes, what assets are loaded, the order in which things stack up.
The result: page load from 4.7 seconds to 1.8 seconds.
I did nothing but switch on the service. I’d say that’s a significant plus for a product that’s totally free.
Wordy Conclusion
Yesterday I could have cared less about CloudFlare, but today I suddenly can’t live without it. I’m thoroughly impressed and hope this post is helpful to somebody. I don’t work for CloudFlare or get any sort of incentive for writing this post, but I would certainly take incentives if they were offered. I’ve already been experimenting with Amazon S3 as a CDN, and Rackspace CloudFiles – both offered inexpensive performance gains with minimal setup, but CloudFiles is another thing entirely! The pro and enterprise upgrades offer increased protection and fine-tuning along with a variety of genuinely-enticing features. As of this moment I’m still using the free account, which is serving pages much faster and allegedly adding a layer of protection from various types of attacks. Once they fix that placeholder logo of theirs I’ll be proudly recommending it to everybody I can find!
3 Comments
Matthew Prince / #1
October 1, 2011 / 3:54pm:
Glad you like the service. Sorry you’re not a fan of the logo. We are. Here’s its story:
http://blog.cloudflare.com/rejected-cloudflare-logos
Thanks for the review!
Matthew Prince (@eastdakota)
CEO, CloudFlare, Inc.
Matt / #2
October 3, 2011 / 8:05am:
Thanks commenting on my humble blog, Matthew! The (free) service CloudFlare provides is worth far more than its asking price, and has been flawlessly consistent since my original setup. Thank you!
Damin martin / #3
April 21, 2012 / 4:18am:
Thank you for developing this website. The stories here are worth reading many times over in order to refresh us time and time again to do good and positive things and inspire or influence others to do the same.
http://showamerica.com/blog/music/getting-discovered-as-a-band-manager-explore-talent-through-2012-contests