April 2011 Summaries

On April 25, 2011, CloudFlare launched its sixth data center in Los Angeles. In its first minute, the facility processed over 30,000 requests and is expected to handle more within the next 24 hours. The new data center will alleviate pressure from San Jose, one of their busiest centers, and provide faster service for users in Hollywood and the Southwestern United States. This Los Angeles data center (LAX) also marks the first facility with CloudFlare's second-generation hardware stack, with more details to be released soon along with announcements about additional new data centers.

On April 22, 2011, CloudFlare hosted a Hybrid DB meetup where Ian Pye, their lead Analytics Engineer, presented on the data infrastructure at CloudFlare. He discussed how they evaluated various NoSQL and SQL solutions before settling on a hybrid model called SortaSQL. Attendees found the presentation "mindblowing" and "very clever." To learn more about SortaSQL, view Ian's slide show presentation. CloudFlare plans to host several meetups in May and June, with details to be announced soon.

The text discusses a feature in the Cloudflare API that allows users to view individual IP hits coming to their site within the past 48 hours. This information can be useful for understanding sudden increases in traffic and identifying potential threats. To use this feature, users need to install the Firefox JSONview addon, obtain their API key and zone ID from their Cloudflare account, and then run a specific URL query with customized variables. The data output will list IPs in order of hits and classify visitors by type. Free accounts can only see data older than 24 hours, while Pro accounts have access to more recent data. This information can be used to identify potential threats and add them to the Block List in the Cloudflare Threat Control panel.

The text discusses how users can report spam back to CloudFlare, benefiting not only their website but also the entire community. For WordPress users, they need to install and configure the CloudFlare plugin with their API key and account email address. They can then report individual or bulk comments as spam, which will be sent back to CloudFlare. For non-WordPress users, they can use the Client Interface API by providing their API key, account email address, and root domain name. The threat data helps make CloudFlare smarter and more effective in protecting websites from malicious activities.

On April 7th, A Scrappy Startup Forum hosted their monthly lunch at CloudFlare's loft, attracting over 60 attendees. Various startups such as Reddit, Dishcrawl, Tapviva, Redbeacon, and SpotSift exchanged ideas while enjoying food from Good Foods Catering. The event allowed for networking among local businesses in the SOMA area. CloudFlare plans to host more Scrappy Startup lunches and other meet-ups in the future.

A new CloudFlare Drupal extension has been created by Brian Stevenson, a Drupal developer. This extension helps restore the original visitor IP at the Drupal level. The installation directions can be found on the Drupal.org website. If mod_cloudflare is already installed on your server, there's no need to install this extension as well. However, it is recommended for those who require original visitor IP at both levels. Currently, the extension is compatible with Drupal 6 and is still under development for Drupal 7. The CloudFlare Drupal extension does not have the same features as the WordPress plugin but will continue to develop additional functionalities. A guide on best practices using Drupal with CloudFlare has been written by a customer. Brian Stevenson's contribution to the CloudFlare and Drupal community is appreciated, and those interested in contributing are encouraged to reach out.

Matthew Prince discusses how traditional web security relies on installing appliances or software deep in a network, making it difficult for them to receive updates on new threats and respond effectively. In contrast, CloudFlare's approach involves building a performance and security network in the cloud, allowing sites to form a "neighborhood watch" for the internet. The company analyzes hundreds of megabytes of log data every minute to identify potential attacks and monitors attackers for new behaviors that are incorporated back into their security layer. Additionally, CloudFlare ensures legitimate users can access websites by watching for evidence of good behavior and incorporating feedback from its community members. As more sites join CloudFlare, the company continues to improve its security system and accelerate the internet as a whole.

CloudFlare is hosting a series of meetups for its vibrant community over the next several weeks. On April 6, there will be a Boston CloudFlare Meet-up organized by Gregory Hort to discuss web performance and Internet security. On April 7, Scrappy Startup Forum will take place in San Francisco, focusing on startups and providing opportunities for networking and sharing information. The Bay Area NoSQL meetup group will gather at CloudFlare's office on April 21, with Ian Pye discussing the company's data infrastructure. In May, the SF Web Performance Group will host a talk on JavaScript performance and script loaders at CloudFlare. The company encourages users to suggest new meet-up ideas for future events.

On April 1, 2011, the office in San Francisco was filled with creative April Fool's Day pranks led by Matthieu and supported by Matthew and Jason. These included wrapping Lee's desk in parcel paper, packaging Ian's desk in bubble wrap, controlling Sri's computer remotely with a foot, and filling Michelle's desk with sticky notes. After the fun concluded, Matthieu was pranked by having his keyboard modified to make typing in French difficult. The team is already planning for next year's April Fool's Day pranks.