Integrating Web Folder to serve images with Gumlet CDN

II. Connect a Web Folder with Gumlet CDN

A. Step-by-Step Guide on Connecting a Folder in a VPS

1. SSH into your VPS: Open a terminal on your local machine and use the SSH command followed by your username and the IP address of your VPS. For example: ssh username@your_vps_ip_address.
2. Create a Folder: Once you’re logged in, you can create a new directory using the mkdir command. For example: mkdir images.
3. Upload Files: To upload files from your local machine to your VPS, you can use a tool like SCP (Secure Copy). For example, to copy a file named ‘example.jpg’ from your local machine to the ‘images’ folder on your VPS:
   scp /path/to/example.jpg username@your_vps_ip_address:/path/to/images.
4. Update DNS Settings with Cloudflare: Sign in to your Cloudflare account, navigate to the DNS settings page, and update your settings to point to your VPS IP address.
5. Connect to Gumlet: Sign up for a Gumlet account, and follow their instructions to integrate it with your website or application. Configure Gumlet to point to the ‘images’ folder on your VPS.

B. Instructions for Using an S3 Compatible Provider (Backblaze)

1. Create a Bucket: Log into your Backblaze account, navigate to the ‘Buckets’ section, and create a new bucket.
2. Upload Files: Upload your images or files to the bucket. You can do this through the Backblaze web interface, or use tools like Cyberduck or Transmit.
3. Integrate with Gumlet: In your Gumlet settings, choose ‘Backblaze’ as your source type, and provide the necessary details such as bucket name, region, and access keys.

C. Connect to Another CDN (PushCDN, BunnyCDN, or Cloudinary)

1. Create an Account: Sign up for an account with the CDN of your choice.
2. Configure the CDN: Follow the CDN’s instructions to integrate their services with your website or application. Direct the CDN to the folder you created on your VPS or Backblaze bucket.

D. Set Up a Shared Hosting Folder with Gumlet CDN

1. Create a Folder: Use your shared hosting control panel or FTP client to create a folder and upload your images or files.
2. Connect to Gumlet: In your Gumlet settings, choose ‘Web Folder’ as your source type, and provide the URL of your shared hosting folder.

Example: Image hosted on a shared hosting plan

Let us consider a scenario where a shared hosting us used to serve images via gumlet for CDN. The folder is called `images.mydomain.in`, and we use Cloudflare to manage the subdomain like discussed earlier.
In Gumlet, the folder is called `myfolder.gumlet.com`, and we define the parameters to maipulate the image. The width and the quality of the image are listed in the image url itself, in the format :

`’https://images.mydomain.in/img.png?q=90&w=600`

where q is quality in percentage, w is width in pixels.

Pros, Cons, and Recommendations for Web Folder

• VPS Setup: Offers more control and flexibility, but requires more technical knowledge. Ideal for intermediate users.
• Backblaze: Provides unlimited data storage and robust data durability, but has costs for data retrieval. Suitable for beginners due to its user-friendly interface.
• Other CDN: Can provide better global reach and faster delivery, but might be more expensive. Suitable for intermediate users.
• Shared Hosting: Easier to set up and manage, but less flexible and may have performance limitations. Recommended for beginners.

Key Takeaways : Serve Images with Gumlet CDN

• Access Control: Ensure proper permissions and access control for your folders and files.
• SSL Certificate: Enable SSL/TLS encryption for secure data transmission.
• Backups: Regularly back up your data to prevent loss.
• WordPress Dependency: If you’re using WordPress, the Gumlet plugin simplifies the integration process.

If you’re not using WordPress, Gumlet offers SDKs for various other platforms and programming languages. In conclusion, the choice of setup largely depends on your technical expertise, specific requirements, and budget. It’s important to carefully consider the pros and cons of each option, and ensure that you follow best practices for server security, data backups, and access control.

Setting Image parameters

References

1. Gumlet Integration Guide
2. Backblaze Documentation
3. Cloudflare DNS Setup Guide
4. How to Use SCP Command to Securely Transfer Files