Configuring CloudFlare

Description of steps to configure CloudFlare

CloudFlare provides security and performance improvement services for websites.

Its main features include:

  • Blocking threats, malicious bots, or crawlers that can significantly consume traffic and overload the virtual server;
  • Caching static data and placing it as close as possible to visitors;

As a result, a site connected to this service receives improved performance, as well as a minimized risk of spam and network attacks. A full list of services and pricing plans is available on the official website of the service in the Pricing section. Help and contact information for CloudFlare representatives can be found in the Help section.

Creating an Account

On the CloudFlare website, click the Sign up button.

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Choose an appropriate plan.

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In the form that appears, enter your email address and password in the corresponding fields.

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Adding a Domain

Enter the domain name and click the Continue button.

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The DNS record scanning system for the domain will be launched, which takes about a minute. Once it is completed, the Continue button will appear.

Configuring DNS Records

All existing resource (DNS) records for the domain will be automatically detected by the program from the existing DNS zone.

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Check that all the necessary DNS records are present. Add any missing ones by specifying the type of DNS record, domain or subdomain name, its value, and TTL (time to live), then click Add record. When adding a DNS record for a subdomain, it is enough to specify the subdomain name part without the main domain name.

Note

Please note that when adding a DNS record for all subdomains (using the * sign as the name), the connection for subdomains will not be protected by CloudFlare. To ensure such protection, you will need to add a DNS record (type "A") for each subdomain separately. The connection to the site will be made via CloudFlare.

You can edit DNS records by simply clicking on the corresponding value and entering the necessary data.

After that, the new value will be saved automatically. To delete a record, click the Delete icon to the right of it.

After making all necessary changes, click the Continue to activation button.

Choosing Necessary Parameters

At this stage, select the pricing plan.

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Note

Please note that the Free plan does not support custom SSL certificates. A corresponding warning will be displayed. If you want to use a custom certificate from one of the certification authorities, you need to select one of the paid CloudFlare plans. The price of the SSL certificate will also depend on the required security parameters.

Updating Your Name Servers

To ensure that all the settings created in the previous steps work, you need to set CloudFlare name servers for the added domain.

Changing the name servers is done in the domain registrar’s control panel.

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After changing the name servers for the domain, click Continue.

Warning

Updating DNS records may take up to 24 hours. As a result, the domain will not be directed to CloudFlare immediately.

Once the DNS records are updated, the domain status will change to Active.

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Help

If you have any additional questions, you can always contact our support team via the ticket system or live chat.

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