Front-end verses back-end caching

[Jon12345]

I want to set up some caching on my Xenforo site. I've become obsessed with getting the page load faster!

One thing I am not 100% sure on is the difference between front-end and back-end caching. Does front-end caching refer to css, images and javascript, while back-end caching refers to mysql data?

 

[Jeremy P]

Generally, yes.

 

[Jon12345]

I am going through the process of trying to cache both frontend and backend. I've setup a CDN for images and javascript, but I notice the CSS is not getting cached. Can I cache that too, using the config.php file?

 

[Jon12345]

Ok, I tried to cache the front-end using config.php. I used the following:

$config['cache']['enabled'] = true;
$config['cache']['provider'] = 'ApcCache';
$config['cache']['sessions'] = true;

But I got a 500 error.

What might I be doing wrong?

I am on php 7.3.14 if that makes any difference.

 

[Jeremy P]

Do you have the APCu PHP extension installed? You would need to install the relevant extension/provider for any of the caching options to work properly. I personally use Memcached, and I know a lot of people use Redis.

 

[Jon12345]

But does Memcached also cache the mysql too?

 

[dknife]

But does Memcached also cache the mysql too?

Mysql has its own caches, innodb buffers and such. The more RAM you have available, the more you can allocate to those buffers.

 

[m1ne]

Redis + PHP Opcache + LSCache is the most optimal.

 

[Jon12345]

Redis + PHP Opcache + LSCache is the most optimal.

Are you referring to those 3 as a combination being the best option for front-end caching? Or are you referring to front-end and back-end caching?

My server currently has litespeed + cache on it, both yet to be applied to my site, mostly because it is slightly beyond me at the moment!

 

[dknife]

Or are you referring to front-end and back-end caching?

Can you elaborate on what you would consider front-end and back-end caching?

 

[Jon12345]

@dknife That is a good point. I read something somewhere about front-end caching and back-end caching, but I now can't find it. Perhaps it was a post on this forum somewhere. I suppose my original question in this thread suggests I don't know:

Does front-end caching refer to css, images and javascript, while back-end caching refers to mysql data?

I do know what I want though. I want a fast cached setup! So, in my mind I am thinking mysql queries are perhaps the backend and css/sessions are the front end. My CDN nicely caches the images and javascript. But the CSS is currently not cached. Nor are my guests.

 

[Jon12345]

I just added this as a test to my config.php:

$config['cache']['enabled'] = true;
$config['cache']['provider'] = 'Memcached';
$config['cache']['config'] = [
    'server' => '127.0.0.1'
];

$config['cache']['sessions'] = true;

But I swear I can't see any page speed difference. In fact, using PageSpeed Insights, I got a lower score! How can you determine if your cache is working properly or not? Should you be seeing lower Load Averages? Or is there another way to test?