TTFB differs when testing Joomla site with CDN

[goble]

Hello,
seems that my home page at explora.mu is having a slow Server response time i.e. slow TTFB (Time to First Byte).
From gtmetrix.com :
-------------
IMPACT : High
Audit : Reduce initial server response time
Root document took 831ms
Keep the server response time for the main document short because all other requests depend on it.
----------------
After reading more about this, I created a test file ttfb.html to make the test.
Results : 306ms
From these tests I understand that it has something to do with the way my site is optimized and not the server itself since the HTML would load faster.
However if I do the same test in Chrome inspect tool, it gives more than 1s for both my joomla and HTML file. So here, it seems that my server is at fault since both joomla and html file has same TTFB

Anyone having the same issue ? Or am I missing something ?

[Per Yngve Berg]

Please post your FPA. See red frame above.

Is OPCode Cache enabled in php on the server?

[brian]

TTFB is always server setup

[goble]

Hi and thanks,

For the FPA, am not comfortable posting the results here. @Per Yngve Berg, I've pm it to you.

I know Joomla is not updated, am waiting for other extensions updates (else they might not work).

For the OPCode cache, I have opened a ticket with the hosting provider to ask. Anyway do I need it when using a free CDN (cloudflare) ?

Am on a shared server and the hosting provider, cannot change the change php handler to PHP-FPM.
They proposed a cloud hosting as from USD 340 /mth which is above my budget, the website being a non-commercial website

[Per Yngve Berg]

You have a SU type PHP API: cgi-fcgi, so you are good. Works the same way as php-fpm.

Ask your host to enable Allow url fopen so you can update Joomla.

com_socialconnect is using a deprecated call. Get an update.

You should have mentioned CDN from the start. Tat involves an extra step from web site to client.
I have added it to the title for you, so experts can reply.

There are more efficient ways to handle Sessions than using the database. Research what works best with a CDN.

With OPCode cache off, the server have to compile the php code on each request.

[goble]

Hi Per and thanks for your in-depth analysis.

You have a SU type PHP API: cgi-fcgi, so you are good. Works the same way as php-fpm.

>> Great ! At least a good news ! ;-)

Ask your host to enable Allow url fopen so you can update Joomla.

>> I have enable it in Cpanel > MultiPHP INI Editor

com_socialconnect is using a deprecated call. Get an update.

>> Have contacted the K2 dev team (they developed it). I can't figure out if there is a newer version (in back-end it won't tell me, have got the v1.10.0)

You should have mentioned CDN from the start.

>> Sorry for that.

Tat involves an extra step from web site to client. I have added it to the title for you, so experts can reply. There are more efficient ways to handle Sessions than using the database. Research what works best with a CDN.

I have googled a bit about what cloudflare says about this (sorry if this topic is starting to fall out of a direct joomla performance question). In an interesting article, cloudflare is saying "Stop worrying about Time To First Byte (TTFB)" https://blog.cloudflare.com/ttfb-time-t ... eaningles/.
As far as I understood this article, it's explaining that the TTFB don't matter as far as the total loading time of the page is low. From what I have learned : beside considering the total loading time of page, TTFB might be a ranking signal in SEO. Am I right in saying so ?

I've made more tests on my hosting account through GTmetrix. 2 different domain names (the 1st one on cloudflare and the 2nd not on CDN) both on same server. Tests were done at the same time on both sites
explora.mu/ttfb.html (through cloudflare)
TTFB: 364ms
TTFB: 131ms
TTFB: 346ms

explora.mu/ (joomla website & through cloudflare))
TTFB: 975ms
TTFB: 924ms
TTFB: 926ms

***2nddomain***/ttfb.html (not through CDN)
TTFB: 477ms
TTFB: 371ms
TTFB: 369ms

[goble]

Finally found the solution : Supercharge Site Load Time & Reduce TTFB By 947% Using Cloudflare
https://www.digitalkube.com/reduce-cloudflare-ttfb/

New results :
explora.mu/ (joomla website & through cloudflare))
TTFB: 68ms
TTFB: 80ms
TTFB: 53ms