Cache Invalidation Techniques for SuiteCommerce Performance

Cache invalidation is a crucial process in SuiteCommerce that ensures your website's content updates seamlessly and efficiently. By properly invalidating cached files, you enhance your site's speed and reliability, especially after implementing changes to your SSP, CSS, or SuiteScript files.

How Do You Clear the CDN Cache?

Most data is cached through SSP and SuiteScript method calls, particularly those found in the sc.environment.ssp file. To clear the CDN cache, you must request invalidation for the specific URLs corresponding to the files you wish to update. Importantly, you cannot clear the CDN cache using product URLs, as these point to individual items on your website (e.g., http://www.mywebstore.com/blue-hat).

Finding URLs for Cache Invalidation

Utilizing your browser's JavaScript console is an effective way to identify URLs needed for cache invalidation requests. Here's how:

1. Activate the JavaScript console in your browser.
2. Navigate to the Sources tab.
3. Expand folders to locate the URL for the desired file.

Steps to Submit a Cache Invalidation Request

To invalidate the cache for specific files, follow these general steps:

1. Navigate to Commerce > Content Management > Cache Invalidation Requests > New.
2. Select the domain(s) you want to invalidate cache for from the Available Domains list.
3. Choose to Clear cache for the whole domain(s) or Specify URLs to target particular files.
4. Enter the appropriate details and click Save.

Quick Tips for Effective Cache Invalidation

• Timing: When you upload new CSS files, plan for a cache invalidation request 7 days prior to the desired go-live date.
• Multiple Domains: You can trigger cache invalidation for multiple domains simultaneously, making it easier to manage updates across your commerce ecosystem.
• Force Updates: Use cache invalidation requests to force updates to the CDN cache when implementing urgent changes.

Key Considerations

• Always double-check the exact URLs for your specific setup before submitting an invalidation request to avoid issues.
• Anticipate browser caching behavior alongside CDN caching; invalidating the CDN does not clear the browser cache.

By understanding these cache invalidation methods and utilizing your browser's tools, you can maintain the efficiency and relevance of your SuiteCommerce website, ultimately enhancing the user experience.

Key Takeaways

• Clear the CDN cache by targeting appropriate URLs for SSP, CSS, or SuiteScript files.
• Use the JavaScript console to locate necessary URLs for cache invalidation.
• Plan ahead for cache invalidation, particularly with CSS changes, to ensure users see updates as intended.

Source: This article is based on Oracle's official NetSuite documentation.