Apache :: Apache mod_deflate specific file extensions only

XenonKilla · Joined: 06 Apr 2012 Posts: 8

I'm trying to enable mod_deflate on my server but I want to enable it for specific file extensions only. I keep seeing all kinds of ways to enable deflate using MIME types etc, but I'm looking for a way to do it by file extension. i.e. .js, .css, .html, .php

I came across this somewhere but I'm unable to verify if it's correct or not.

<IfModule mod_deflate.c>
<filesMatch "\.(js|css|html|php)$">
SetOutputFilter DEFLATE
</filesMatch>
</IfModule>

Can anyone verify or perhaps give me a better solution?

I'm running Apache 2.4.18 on Windows Server 2012 R2

James Blond

Is the deflate module loaded?

Try on the command line

XenonKilla · Joined: 06 Apr 2012 Posts: 8

I think you misunderstood my question, I know how to enable the deflate module, what I'm fuzzy on is whether or not this is the CORRECT way to enable deflate for specific file extensions. The module is enabled and so far the syntax I posted appears to be working correctly, I just want to make sure that this is the most correct and efficient way to go about doing this.

jraute · Joined: 13 Sep 2013 Posts: 188 Location: Rheinland, Germany

Looks good.

The only alternative would be to use

mmarino · Joined: 08 Jun 2018 Posts: 4 Location: USA, Cleveland

I am using Apache 2.4.2 on Windows Server 2012 R2 and I am new to Apache.
I trying to configure Apache to use mod_deflate to compress specific, non-standard file extensions (mnt & rep). In your forum I found an example syntax as follows:
<IfModule mod_deflate.c>
<filesMatch "\.(js|css|html|php)$">
SetOutputFilter DEFLATE
</filesMatch>
</IfModule>

I replaced (js|css|html|php) with (mnt|rep), but I'm not seeing any difference in how long my test files are taking to download. I don't see anything in the logs that shows whether or not compression is actually active during the download. Is my syntax correct and are there logs, other than the error & access logs to review?

James Blond

What are those files? Text based? binary? Does apache know the content type?

mmarino · Joined: 08 Jun 2018 Posts: 4 Location: USA, Cleveland

They are text based and included a combination of pipe delimited data and some sql commands, but all text based.

When you say does apache know the content type, are you saying I should possibly use these commands instead?
<IfModule mod_deflate.c>
AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/mnt text/rep
</IfModule>

James Blond

Maybe you also have to add your files to conf/mime.types so apache knows thats these are text based files.

mmarino · Joined: 08 Jun 2018 Posts: 4 Location: USA, Cleveland

I am not having an issue downloading the files, just compressing the files. Do you think a mime.types change would still be needed? I don't have Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager on my Windows server, which is what is recommended to add mime.types. Can the mime.types file be edited manually, if I stop and start the Apache service?

I did not get confirmation on whether the changes I made to the httpd.conf seem correct or if there are additional changes I should try.

Does the mod_deflate compression work for any Apache downloading or is it for website downloading only?

James Blond

mmarino · Joined: 08 Jun 2018 Posts: 4 Location: USA, Cleveland

Tried to edit the mime.types file, but it says it is being used by another program, whether I stop or don't stop Apache. If the files are downloading, but just not compressing, do you still think they might need added to the mime.types?