Tencent Cloud COS static web hosting + CDN: Building Documentation Sites with Zero Risk of Server Downtime

Introduction (pain point analysis)

As a developer, tech evangelist or startup team leader, are you struggling with the following questions:

• Server operations and maintenance are cumbersome:The need to manually configure web servers (e.g. Nginx), handle system updates and security patches consumes a lot of effort.
• Downtime Risk:A single cloud server has a single point of failure risk, once down, the whole website will be inaccessible, affecting user experience and brand image.
• Slow access:Users are distributed in different regions, if the server is only in a single geographic region, the remote user access latency is high and the page loads slowly.
• Weak security:In the face of simple DDoS attacks or Web vulnerabilities, self-built servers often lack effective protection, which can easily lead to service interruptions.
• Cost Considerations:To cope with traffic peaks, higher-specification servers need to be configured, but in normal times resource utilization is low, resulting in wasted costs.

If you are struggling with how to build a highly available, highly concurrent static document site with very low cost and O&M investment, then this article will provide you with a complete solution.

Solution Architecture Diagram and Overview

An ideal static website hosting solution should be as simple and reliable as using a hydroelectric grid. Our core design idea is:The website content (HTML, CSS, JS, images and other static resources) is hosted in object storage with a persistence of up to 99.999999999999%, and accelerated and protected by globally distributed CDN nodes, completely eliminating the single point of server failure.

The architecture diagram is shown below:

(The figure below clearly shows the data flow and core components of the entire program)

A brief description of the workflow:

1. The developer uploads the website static files to the storage bucket of Tencent Cloud Object Storage (COS).
2. Place a customized domain name (e.g. docs.yourcompany.com) resolves to the accelerated domain name provided by Tencent Cloud EdgeOne via CNAME records.
3. When a global user requests the domain, the request is first intelligently dispatched to the nearest EdgeOne edge node.
4. The edge node checks if there is a cache, if there is no cache or the cache is expired, it pulls the file from the COS source and caches it to the edge.
5. Users get content quickly from edge nodes for millisecond access. At the same time, all requests are securely cleansed by EdgeOne against attacks.

Core Products and Components

component name	play a role	Key configuration/selection recommendations	Why choose it
Object Storage (COS)​	Source station storage and persistence:Serves as the “root directory” of the site, storing all static files. Provides high data persistence and availability.	- Storage Type:Select “Standard Storage” for highly reliable and high-performance access. - Permission settings:Setting storage buckets to “public read-private write” ensures that website content is publicly accessible while preventing data tampering.	Compared to self-built server hard disk, data persistence is up to 11 9, which fundamentally eliminates data loss and website downtime caused by hardware damage.
EdgeOne​	Global Acceleration and Security Gateway:As an intelligent access layer between users and COS source stations, it provides CDN acceleration, DDoS protection, and Web Application Firewall (WAF) capabilities.	- Free credits:The free version, which offers unlimited DDoS protection and CDN traffic, is perfect for individuals and small projects to get started. - Domain name filing:If you use the domestic accelerated line, you need to complete the domain name record; if you only use the overseas line, you don't need to record.	The core values of this program are found.The free version integrates acceleration and security capabilities, eliminating the need to build your own gateway or purchase multiple products, greatly simplifying architecture and reducing costs.
SSL Certificate Services​	Data transmission encryption:Enabling HTTPS for your website domain ensures secure data transfer and is good for SEO.	- Apply for a free certificate:Apply for a one-year TrustAsia free certificate directly on the Tencent Cloud SSL certificate platform and deploy it to EdgeOne.	Automated certificate request and deployment eliminates the need for manual renewal and ensures that websites are always served with the secure HTTPS protocol.

Summary of program benefits

• 🚀 Zero server downtime risk:Based on infinitely scalable COS and globally distributed nodes, there is no single point of failure and service availability is up to 99.95% or more.
• ⚡ Global millisecond access:Relying on EdgeOne's global edge nodes, intelligent scheduling dramatically reduces access latency and improves user reading experience.
• 🛡️ Built-in enterprise-grade security:The free version enjoys unlimited DDoS protection and basic WAF capability to effectively protect your website against common network attacks.
• 💰 Extreme cost optimization:Payment is based entirely on actual usage (storage capacity, number of requests), with minimal costs when there is no business access and no need to pay for idle server resources.
• 👨‍💻 Zero O&M input:There is no need to care about server operation and maintenance, expansion and contraction, security patches and other underlying issues, allowing developers to focus on the content itself.

Application Scenarios and Applicable Customers

• Core application scenarios:
  • Technical Documentation Center:Generated documentation sites such as VuePress, Docusaurus, GitBook, and others.
  • Personal blog with portfolio:Websites built with static blog generators like Hexo, Hugo, Jekyll, etc.
  • Corporate Communications page:Pure static content such as product descriptions, event landing pages, etc.
  • Front-end project demo:SPA (Single Page Application) hosting and publishing.
• Applicable customer characteristics:
  • Individual developers, indie studios, startups looking to launch projects at minimal cost.
  • Any team that needs to be stable online 7x24 hours, but is not familiar with server operations and maintenance or does not want to invest the effort.
  • Websites with users distributed globally and with page load speed requirements.

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