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How To Optimize TCP Connection Performance

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Let’s dive into how we can improve our TCP connections for HTTPS in WordPress. In our technical arsenal, the tools include HTTP/2, efficient reuse of connections, and some practical tips to further enhance performance.

Starting Point: Embracing HTTP/2

Our first step is adopting HTTP/2 as that will allow the handling of multiple requests simultaneously over a single connection. To enable HTTP/2 in your WordPress, these steps are your go-to:

  1. Check for HTTPS – In your wp-config.php file, ensure force_ssl_admin is set to true.
  2. Explore Server Support – Many servers support HTTP/2. Verify using an online tool like HTTP/2.Pro.
  3. Configure the Server – It’s probable your server already has HTTP/2 configuration in place. However, double-checking, and making necessary tweaks wouldn’t hurt.

Next: Enable Connection Keep-Alive

Pairing HTTP/2 with an efficient Connection Keep-Alive, makes for a powerful and dynamic duo. Connection Keep-Alive reuses connections, mitigating latency caused by establishing new ones.

To do so for any site, you’ll have to modify your web server configuration. An update in your .htaccess will suffice:

<ifModule mod_headers.c>
Header set Connection keep-alive
</ifModule>

The result? Instructions for your Apache server to keep the connection alive, and conserve resources.

Extra Optimization Tactics

Venturing beyond the explored, there are further ways to enhance TCP connection times, enlisted as follows:

  1. Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN): A tool like Cloudflare reduces the physical distance between the client and the server, improving connection times.
  2. Adopt a Faster DNS Resolver: Higher latency due to the DNS resolution process and in need of improving your DNS Lookup? This can be tackled using a fast DNS resolver like Google’s Public DNS or Cloudflare DNS.
  3. Optimize SSL/TLS Handshake: Tools such as enforcing session reuse and implementing TLS Fast Open can assist in optimizing the process impacting connection times.

If you’re not running your site behind Cloudflare, you may need to check with your hosting company how they’ve got the following taken care off.

  1. Apply Packet Compression: Compressed data reduces upload/download times, enhancing TCP connection times.
  2. Adjust TCP Parameters: Tweaking TCP parameters, like Window Size and TCP Buffer size, positively impacts connection times.
  3. Enable TCP Fast Open: A potentially supportive tool but requires tricky implementation and isn’t always supported by servers or clients.
  4. Utilize Connection Pooling: Reusing existing TCP connections rather than establishing a new one improves connection times.

Again, using Cloudflare and any decent hosting company will have the above 4 items being non-issues.