This module is quite simply the best way to speed up a DotNetNuke website. Pageblaster is an essential module that should be used by all DotNetNuke websites. This module has two main functions, caching and compression, and does both of these extremely well.
Caching
Pageblaster's caching method works by saving each page to a text file the first time that page is requested by any visitor and then any further requests for that page are served using this cached text file. Normally there is a lot of effort required to serve a DotNetNuke page, and this is very time consuming. Most DotNetNuke pages also require many database queries before they can be served. But Pageblaster builds the page once, and the serves the text copy for all further requests - so this means that all this time that is normally required to build a page is now not required and the page is served to the visitor extremely quickly.
Page serving process without Pageblaster:
User request -> server checks module cache for each module -> server makes many database calls -> all server code is executed -> page is built -> page is served.
Page serving process with Pageblaster:
User request -> server gets Pageblaster cached page -> page is served.
Compression
Pageblaster compresses each page's output, which means that the size of the content being sent is reduced and arrives at the visitors browser much quicker. This also means that because each page served is smaller, your webserver can serve more pages when under heavy load - and your monthly bandwith bill will be lowered too!
The combination of caching and compression not only makes a site faster, but also makes a site feel more responsive. These two features work well and start working as soon as the module is installed, without any complicated setup required. Just these two features alone make this module an essential purchase for your DotNetNuke website.
Support
The support for pageblaster is great, with a dedicated support forum where queries are always answered quickly, and where the module's author goes out of his way to solve difficult problems.
Extra goodies
Even without extras, you should have brought this module already! But it does have some truely awesome extras
- Merging css and javascript files: serve 2 files instead of 20 - a huge time saver
- Find and replace html output: fix DotNetNuke xhtml issues easily
- And lots more that you can find for yourself when you buy this module from snowcovered.com
Snapsis Pageblaster also works extremely well with another module on our review list -
URL Master. These two modules together will completely transform your slow website with bad URLs to a well oiled machine!
Drawbacks
The Pageblaster module is not compatible with all modules - there are some modules that can not be compressed and cached using the Pageblaster method. Fortunately these are rare, and Pageblaster can easily be told to ignore anything that is not compatible.