Understanding CDNs: What They Mean for 10X ERP Users
Overview
10X ERP uses Cloudflare to keep the app fast and secure. Cloudflare is one of the largest networks on the internet, handling more than 20% of all web traffic. It acts as a massive shield against cyberattacks, a content accelerator (a Content Delivery Network, or CDN), and a DNS provider. For 10X, Cloudflare sits between you and our servers: it delivers content from a location near you and blocks malicious traffic before it reaches 10X.
One thing that helps when something isn't working: Cloudflare and 10X are two separate systems, and they can have problems independently. Most of the time, if 10X is unavailable, the issue is on 10X's side, and Cloudflare is working normally. Occasionally, though rarely, it's the other way around.
Knowing the difference can save you time when reporting issues to us.
What Cloudflare provides to 10X
- Connects you to a nearby Cloudflare location so pages load quickly
- Secures your connection (HTTPS)
- Blocks abuse and helps absorb attacks before they reach 10X (and you).
- Stores copies of unchanging files like images and scripts so they load faster (your live data, such as orders and inventory, is never cached, so you always see current information)
What Cloudflare does not handle
- Processing your orders
- Running posting, reporting, or integrations
- Fixing a problem inside 10X. If a 10X service is broken, only 10X can resolve it.
Is it Cloudflare or 10X?
If 10X isn't working, here's how to tell where the problem is:
| What you're seeing | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| The app loads, and you can log in, but saving, submitting, or running reports fails | A problem inside 10X. Cloudflare is working fine. |
| Some features work, and others don't | A specific 10X service is having trouble. |
| An error page that mentions "Cloudflare" | Cloudflare is working, but can't reach 10X's servers. This points to a 10X-side outage, even though the page says Cloudflare. |
| Nothing loads at all, and other websites also fail | The problem is your own internet connection, not 10X or Cloudflare. |
A quick tip: if an error page mentions Cloudflare, that almost always means Cloudflare is doing its job, and the problem is on 10X's side. A true Cloudflare-wide outage is uncommon.
What to do
- Check whether it's only 10X. Try opening another website, or use a different device or network. If other sites also fail, the problem is your own connection: try restarting your router, or check with whoever manages your network.
- If only 10X is affected, contact 10X support. This is the most common situation, and 10X is the only one that can fix an issue on their side. Reach out to us at [email protected], since this often means your in-app Beacon is unavailable. Our [email protected] email goes to the same inbox as the in-app Beacon, so we (10X Support) see it the same way as if you reported through the app/website.
- If you suspect a wider outage, you can check Cloudflare's status at cloudflarestatus.com.
We hope this article is helpful when considering the root cause of a systemic issue, and, more than anything, as an informational article about web-based applications! We're here to support you and your business, and appreciate your support of us here at 10X ERP!