When it comes to website and server management, the Baota Panel has become the preferred tool for many webmasters and businesses. Its intuitive visual interface integrates website deployment, database management, performance optimization, and security protection into a single console, significantly reducing the complexity of server operations and maintenance. However, with the growth of website traffic and the increasing frequency of cyberattacks, relying solely on server protection is often insufficient. To further improve website access speed and security, a CDN (Content Delivery Network) and a WAF (Web Application Firewall) have become essential supporting tools. So, can the Baota Panel be used in conjunction with a CDN and WAF? The answer is yes, and combined use can achieve even more powerful results.
Ⅰ. Functional Positioning of the Baota Panel, CDN, and WAF
To effectively combine these functions, it's important to first understand the functional divisions of these three.
The Baota Panel is primarily used for server and website management, covering website creation, database management, SSL certificates, scheduled tasks, security configuration, and more. It serves as the "backend operations and maintenance core," responsible for daily server operations and optimization.
CDN (Content Delivery Network): Essentially, it uses globally or regionally distributed acceleration nodes to cache and distribute website content locally. Its advantages include shortening user access paths, improving loading speeds, and alleviating pressure on origin servers. It's commonly used in e-commerce, video, download, and high-concurrency services.
WAF (Web Application Firewall): Deployed between the network and application layers, it blocks common web attacks such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), file upload vulnerabilities, and CC attacks. It acts like a website's "security guard," proactively identifying and blocking malicious requests.
The relationship between the three can be understood as follows:
The Baota Panel manages and optimizes servers;The CDN improves access speeds and diverts traffic;The WAF defends against network attacks.
II. How to Use the Baota Panel with a CDN
The integration of a CDN in the Baota Panel environment primarily involves the following aspects:
1. Domain name resolution and CDN access. First, add a website to the Baota Panel, bind the domain name, and configure an SSL certificate. Then, point the domain name's resolution record to the CNAME address provided by the CDN vendor, rather than directly resolving to a server IP in Hong Kong or the United States. This way, user access will first pass through the CDN node, and then be routed back to the Baota server.
2. Static Resource Acceleration. CDNs are better at handling static resources, such as images, CSS, and JS files. In the Baota panel, you can configure cache headers and enable GZIP compression to further improve CDN cache utilization.
3. Dynamic Acceleration and Traffic Diversion. For cross-border e-commerce or gaming businesses, you can enable dynamic acceleration. The reverse proxy function in the Baota panel can work with the CDN to divert some requests to different backends, reducing pressure on the origin server.
4. Back-to-Origin Strategy Optimization. In the Baota panel's site configuration, you can configure Nginx caching and rate limiting rules. Combined with the CDN's back-to-origin strategy, such as only returning dynamic page requests, this can significantly reduce server load.
Ⅲ. How to Use the Baota Panel in Combination with a WAF
The Baota Panel comes with certain built-in protection features, such as a firewall and Fail2Ban for brute force attack prevention, but a professional WAF offers greater advantages against application-layer attacks.
1. Deployment Mode
Cloud WAF: Domain name resolution is performed by the cloud WAF vendor, which then forwards the domain name to the Baota server.
Local WAF: Install a professional plugin through Baota or deploy it independently, such as OpenResty + ModSecurity rules.
2. Baota Panel Collaboration
Enabling logging in the panel's site settings provides data analysis for the WAF.
Configuring IP blacklists/whitelists creates a dual defense with the WAF.
For high-risk ports (such as 3306 and 22), use the Baota firewall to restrict access, and then let the WAF perform application-layer filtering.
3. Strengthening Protection Strategies
Enable SSL in Baota to ensure that the traffic detected by the WAF is encrypted and secure.
Use the WAF's CC protection feature to prevent high-concurrency malicious requests from overwhelming the origin server.
Focus on protecting upload and API interfaces. Baota can work with the WAF to implement rate limits and request size control.
IV. The Combined Effect of CDN + WAF and Baota Panel
Combining these three creates a complete protection and acceleration system:
1. User Request Path: User → CDN Node (Cache/Acceleration) → WAF (Security Filtering) → Baota Server (Business Processing).
2. Performance Improvement: CDN reduces latency, improving the user experience. Baota optimizes the database, cache, and site structure to increase origin server processing capacity. WAF reduces malicious traffic, allowing the server to focus on legitimate business requests.
3. Security Hardening: CDN comes with built-in DDoS protection, capable of resisting large-scale traffic attacks. WAF intercepts application-layer attacks. Baota Firewall strengthens port security.
4. Operational Efficiency: Baota centrally manages websites and databases, streamlining operations. CDN and WAF manage network layer security and acceleration, reducing operational and maintenance pressure.
V. Considerations for Combined Use
1. Avoiding Origin Configuration Errors. CDN Origin must point to the actual IP address of the Baota server, and the Baota firewall must allow this IP address.
2. HTTPS Certificate Issues. Both the CDN and Baota may require SSL configuration. It is recommended to deploy a certificate on the CDN side and configure the same certificate on the Baota server to avoid "Origin Insecurity" issues.
3. Cache Conflicts. CDN caching policies may conflict with Baota's Nginx cache, requiring unified planning to prevent update delays.
4. Troubleshooting Order. When access anomalies occur, first check the CDN resolution, then the WAF blocking rules, and finally the Baota configuration.
The Baota panel not only provides efficient server management but also works seamlessly with the CDN and WAF, providing a dual guarantee of acceleration and security. In actual deployments, user requests are first accelerated by the CDN, then filtered by the WAF, and finally handed over to the Baota server to process the business logic. This architecture not only enhances the global access experience but also effectively protects against various cyberattacks. For businesses and website administrators, a correct understanding of the functional positioning of these three components and a rational planning of access and configuration are crucial for achieving maximum effectiveness. In the future, as cyberattacks evolve and cross-border business expands, the combination of Baota Panel, CDN, and WAF will become the mainstream model for website operations and maintenance.
