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cp/wp plugin: cloudflare NOTES                                  rev 10 mar 2022

Category: network
cp/wp: classicpress and wordpress 
webwalker: essential

* 2 june 2021 - Version 4.5.0 crashes website
  https://wordpress.org/support/topic/version-4-5-0-crashes-website/

.......................................................
description: 

  Hooks up your website to your Cloudflare account 
    - sends real source IP to WordPress rather than the CloudFlare IP.
    - takes care of API
    - manage Automatic Platform Optimization (APO)
    - manage Web application firewall (WAF) rulesets (paid plans)
    - Automatic cache purge on website updates.
    - passes client's original ip address to the server,
		rather than the cloudflare ip it is going through.
    - Header rewrite to prevent a redirect loop when Cloudflare’s Universal SSL is enabled
    - can clear cache, set dev mode, do other things from dashboard,
         without having to log in to Cloudflare separately.

  support: has become very good as of v.3.8 sep/oct 2020

  privacy: dunno. cloudflare sees everything because that's how it
	can do its magic. we can hope they are more ethical than 
    many others. [oct 2020]

  TBD
  CP compat:  [listed CP v1, author promises support, ...]
  CP support: [details]
  Version recommendation: FREEZE at n.n | UPDATE OK

  
  ......................... 
  Why i use Cloudflare:
    https://www.webwalker.to/samma-kammanta/process-website-cloudflare-why-use.html

.......................................................
sources: 

  Plugin page:
    https://wordpress.org/plugins/cloudflare

  WordPress forums:
    https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/cloudflare
    https://wordpress.org/search/classicpress+cloudflare/?forums=1
  ClassicPress forums:
    https://forums.classicpress.net/search?q=%22cloudflare%22

  Docs and code: TBD
    https://pluginwebsite.tld/

  Author: Cloudflare


_______________________________________________________ 
➽  Install/config/uninstall:

.........................
requires: 

   php: > v.7.2
   wp:  > v.3.4


.........................
recommended related plugins: n/a



......................... 
install:

  the usual.
  Need to have your site set up on Cloudflare.
  Free account works fine.
  You entire your API key from your Cloudflare account into the
    cloudflare plugin settings.
  [oct 2020]

......................... 
settings:

    under Settings sidebar menu.


.........................
check: TBD
  [mail sending? plugin sends/saves data for itself? plugin conflicts? other]


.........................
deactivate: TBD


.........................
uninstall: TBD

  - deletes from database?

  tables: 
 


......................... 
rollback:

  previous versions - https://wordpress.org/plugins/cloudflare/advanced/

_______________________________________________________ 
➽  Notes:


.........................
Change api key directly:

  * If you have access to the WP-CLI you can update the 
    email address/key stored options directly and then your site 
    will use the new credentials. 

  * You could also do this by connecting to your database and 
    updating the values there:
    $ wp option update cloudflare_api_key '<!---YOUR API TOKEN --->'

  https://wordpress.org/support/topic/change-api-key-in-cloudflare-plugin/

.........................
Problem caching on category, archive pages:
  Looks like this is only when using APO.

  https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cloudflare-caching-on-category-updates/
  https://github.com/cloudflare/Cloudflare-WordPress/issues/337
  https://community.cloudflare.com/t/apo-still-strange-behavior-with-pagination/230858/3
  [dec 2021 - mar 2021]

.........................
changing Cloudflare account email:

  - You will need to deactivate the plugin and re-enter new credentials
    (email address, api key).
      https://wordpress.org/support/topic/access-forbidden-to-plugin-settings/
    I don't remember seeing any notice about this when i changed
      email address on an account, but when i went back to one of the
      account website's wp-admin, i got red bar and 'forbidden', but no
      link or explanation what to do about it.
      Cloudflare suport docs had no result on search.
      Luckily web search got the above link at the top of results  :)

.........................
php compatibility:

  Incompatible with php 7.2 and above.
    https://wordpress.org/support/topic/incompatible-with-most-current-php/
    [aug 2020]


.........................
Automatic Platform Optimization (APO)
  [new oct 2020]
  "Typically Cloudflare only caches static content [images, js, css, etc], 
    but with APO we can also cache dynamic content like html so the entire site 
    is served from cache."
  caches third-party scripts as well.
    https://support.cloudflare.com/hc/en-us/articles/360049822312-Understanding-Automatic-Platform-Optimization-APO-with-WordPress
    https://blog.cloudflare.com/automatic-platform-optimizations-starting-with-wordpress/

  "You don't need the APO option if you have a developer who knows 
    what they are doing. ...
    If you are expecting APO to magically fix any performance or scaling 
    issues for WordPress, you may be disappointed."
    -- blindpet
       https://wordpress.org/plugins/user-activity-log/
       [21 feb 2021]

  
  ......................... 
  How it works with other plugins, especially with related functionality
    such as caching:

    "In general with APO, we will serve more of your site from cache,
    which might lessen the benefit of other plugins. Depending on
    the specific capabilities, some of the optimizations by other
    plugins may still be useful though when we do fetch from origin."
    -- https://wordpress.org/support/topic/should-3rd-party-cache-plugins-be-disabled/#post-13495145
      [6 oct 2020]

  
  ......................... 
  Is being introduced first for WordPress. 
    $5/month for Free plan 
    no additional cost in Professional, Business, and Enterprise plans.
    [2 oct 2020]
  
  ......................... 
  James' view:
    - have no idea how it will work with ClassicPress.
    - i am always very conservative with new tech stuff.
        and my sites are all pretty small.
        Don't think i need this for now.
    [oct 2020]


.......................................................
➽  more info:



.......................................................
➽  other plugins of same type:

  None - this is exclusively for managing Cloudflare.


  .........................
  Why this one: 
    Because it is useful. See description above.



_______________________________________________________
begin 17 dec 2019
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