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CloudFlare + DNN + SoFried

 

 

At this month's Southern Fried DNN meeting, Ryan Moore and David Weinstein lead a discussion about the uses of CloudFlare for DNN sites. Ryan introduces CloudFlare concepts and a look at CloudFlare SSL pros/cons and setup steps, individual CloudFlare settings, and the Cloudflare rules which benefit DNN sites. David discusses using CloudFlare for disaster recovery and migration scenarios.

About the Speakers:

Ryan Moore - DNN MVP - DNN Integrator - XModPro Pro, SouthernFried DNN User Group, DNNSummit & More

Moore Creative works with a range of industries from state and international government, corporations such as Lowe's, Rubbermaid, Bombardier to small/local companies such as local NASCAR heavyweight Hendrick Motorsports. MC uses DNN as an application development platform to create powerful, customized solutions for client sites. Using tools such as XMod Pro, Hotcakes, and DNN APIs to produce complex integrations with external systems and business processes, Moore Creative loves working within DNN!

Be sure to ask Ryan about snorkeling with sharks, an award-winning George Lucas figure, or that tarantula in Belize.

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David Weinstein - DNN Integrator and Administrator

David Weinstein is the CTO of OAExperts, Inc., delivering global solutions to the biotech, pharmaceutical, and medical industries for over 30 years. David is also a principal with Vector Wellness, Inc., a health and wellness solutions company that delivers patient-centered health coaching solutions to the hospital and corporate wellness markets. Previously, he served as the Director of Data Analytics for a Clinical Research organization.

David is skilled at developing and implementing enterprise-scale technologies, delivering superior customer service, and providing project management of various data management, clinical, and financial systems.

 

DNN BUZZ - Meeting Links and topics this month:

• Southern Fried DNN > Blog - Ryan announced that the Southern Fried DNN User Group will begin a trial of alternating times for the monthly meetings to allow our European friends to join live meetings. Stay tuned for announcements for the updated times for the next meetings.
• DNN Open Source Community > Resources > Blogs - There were no new blog posts in the DNN Community site this month...
• Slack - But there was plenty of conversation going on in the DNN Slack Open Help workspace. Questions and contributions from Joeseph Craig lead directly to new feature inclusion in the recently released DNN 9.9.1.
• Release v9.9.1 · dnnsoftware/Dnn.Platform · GitHub - The latest release of DNN 9.9.1 includes two new features, one of which is better Site Groups management within the interface for adding a module from another Portal onto a page. 

Introductions to CloudFlare and Key Features for DNN:

• DNN Speed - CDNs, Site Caching & Speed With CloudFlare or AWS CloudFront - Ryan recapped an older DNN & CloudFlare presentation, referencing some links which still apply
• Cloudflare - The Web Performance & Security Company | Cloudflare - An introduction to what IS CloudFlare - Website CDN, cashing, but most of all a security layer to stand between your server and the malicious traffic and activities of the world!
• Top Tips for new CloudFlare Users
• Account | Cloudflare - Web Performance & Security
• Securing user access with two-factor authentication (2FA) – Cloudflare Help Center - A note from Ryan to be sure to print or screen cap the initial 2-Factor QRcode for the ability to reuse later when setting up a new phone!
• End-to-end HTTPS with Cloudflare - Part 3: SSL options – Cloudflare Help Center - Ryan discussed using a server's self-signed SSL certificate in conjunction with CloudFlare's free SSL protection to equal standard SSL certificate coverage for a marketing or business site
• SSL One Click Install in Just 5 Minutes | Cloudflare

David Weinstein Discusses CloudFlare for Disaster Recovery:

David Weinstein presented several tools and uses of CloudFlare features to be used as part of a broader Disaster Recovery Plan. This included picking an external host such as LightEdge who bundles paid tools such as Zerto with their hosting accounts. With Zerto managing replication and healthcheck monitoring and featrures from CloudFlare, Dave is able to achieve a smooth system of replicated sites ready for cutover at a moment's notice!

• cloudflare-two-pager-load-balancing.pdf
• Health Check Analytics and how you can use it
• New tools to monitor your server and avoid downtime
• Logflare - Cloudflare Apps
• Buy Carbonite Safe - A tool like Carbonite can be used to help manage server copies...
• Zerto Platform | Cloud Data Management - David uses Zerto to manage the copy process from Production to secondary and teritary locations 
• Future of Backup: From Periodic to Continuous | Zerto
• LightEdge Hosting - Displaying a unique hosting location, David suggested partnering with a hosting provider who can participate in RuleBook actions of contingencies and plans for action as well as who bundles other serices and featrures that help enable the backup scenario.

Watch the Southern Fried DNN User Group April 2021 Meeting: