Google recently announced that it was cancelling its PageSpeed service, effective earlier this month.

 

Google’s PageSpeed Service, which was first launched in 2010, uses tools to analyze and optimize websites in order to implement the best web performance practices. Fast and optimized pages lead to better visitor engagement, retention, and conversions.

 

But Google is pulling the plug on the service, although the free tools it offers will still be available on other open source platforms.

 

What to Do Now

 

Google recommended that webmasters using the service login to the PageSpeed console and look at the list of their domains. Any domains that are labeled “Enabled” were affected when the service shut down.

 

If a web page’s DNS wasn’t changed prior to the shutdown of PageSpeed, it is now completely unavailable.

 

PageSpeed Cancelled – Options to PageSpeed

 

Google offered PageSpeed several options – some free and some paid — that they can switch to as an alternative to the service.

 

Webmasters are advised to check with their service provider to see if they offer provider hosted PageSpeed. In some instances, switching to this version could be as simple as checking a box in the provider’s control panel.

 

There also are PageSpeed modules available for many of the most common web servers. So web page owners who run their sites of their own server are advised to install one of these.

 

Google also has developed the open-source Apache module mod_pagespeed. There are currently two pre-built binary modules available: Apache 2.2 and Apache 2.4.

 

Plug-In Option

 

There’s also a plugin for Nginx that Google has developed. But this must be compiled from the source.

 

Other options include:

 

  • IIS – WeAmp has a commercial port of PageSpeed to Microsoft IIS.

 

  • Apache Traffic Server – WeAmp also has ported PageSpeed to the Apache Traffic server.

 

  • OpenLite Speed – This platform supports a PageSpeed module that can be compiled and loaded into a webserver.

 

  • Cloud-Based Alternatives – If webmasters prefer to use a cloud-based product, EdgeCast EdgeOptimizer integrates Google PageSpeed with its CDN offering. Or, many CNDS offer similar functionality that don’t use PageSpeed technology.

 

PageSpeed Cancelled –  Why PageSpeed Mattered

 

PageSpeed was designed to allow web pages to load faster for users. It featured a quick and easy setup and allowed users to keep up with the latest optimization technologies without having to constantly search for them online.

 

One of the biggest benefits was that it used Google’s existing fast and secure infrastructure, which won’t be available for webmasters who switch to open source server modules. It was widely praised for creating happier users and better conversions.

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