What is the Content Pages profile; how do I prepare my own HTML page?

Short answer

Content Pages is the profile that centrally holds the contents (such as HTML, JSON and plain text) that TR7 returns directly to the client; it is not assigned directly to a vService; features such as the Show Content and error actions, WAF and L7 DDoS / Threat Protection use it. To prepare a custom page, Content Page Name, Content Type (default text/html) and Content are entered with Load Balancer → Profiles → Content Pages → Add; the content is written visually in the Visual editor or with code in the HTML source mode, and it is also possible to start from a ready-made page. The page must not exceed the buffer size (Buffer Size(kB)) of the vService on which it is used minus 2 kB.

Problem: A Page Belonging to the Organization Is Needed

In situations such as maintenance, errors, access blocks or static responses, TR7 needs to return content that matches the look of the organization. The content is prepared once and is used by being selected in different actions and profiles; a change made to the page is reflected everywhere the page is used.

Solution: Two Methods

Your situation	Suitable method
Preparing the page in the interface (visually, with code or from a template)	Method 1: Content Pages form
Creating a short page from the command line	Method 2: WEB-CLI

Method 1: Content Pages Form Recommended

• How it works The page is saved with a page name, a content type and the content; the content is written in the visual editor or as HTML source.
• Where it is openedLoad Balancer → Profiles → Content Pages → Add
• Requirement CSS, fonts and images embedded in the page (the page is often shown while the servers are unreachable)
• Scope All the actions and profiles that select the page

Step-by-Step Configuration

1

Adım 1 Open the form

Load Balancer → Profiles → Content Pages → Add is clicked (add form).

2

Adım 2 Select a template (optional)

If one of the ready-made page buttons at the top of the form (e.g. Access Denied Page (Turkish)) is clicked, its content and type are copied into the form; the name is not copied. Details: Are there ready-made maintenance / error page templates?

3

Adım 3 Enter the name and type

Content Page Name must be unique (if the same name is entered, the Name is used warning appears). Content Type is text/html by default; application/json is selected for JSON and text/plain for plain text, or a type that is not in the list is written manually (it cannot contain spaces).

4

Adım 4 Select the editing mode

The mode is selected with the HTML source ⇄ Visual editor switch next to the Content field. The mode is set automatically according to the content: a full page that starts with <!doctype or <html> opens in the Visual editor, and the others and an empty page open in HTML source. Since the Visual editor converts the content into its own form at the save, the mode is switched to HTML source before a manually written page that contains styles is pasted.

5

Adım 5 Write the content

In the Visual editor, text, formatting, tables, links and images (URL or base64) are added; in HTML source, code is written. Styles are embedded in the page inside <style>, small images are added as base64, and <meta charset="utf-8"> is written for Turkish characters. The field accepts at most 153,600 characters; however, the presented page must not exceed the Buffer Size(kB) value of the vService minus 2 kB (approximately 126 kB with the default 128 kB). A page that exceeds this limit prevents the vService configuration from being loaded; if a large page is needed, a vService Limits profile with a larger Buffer size(kB) value is assigned to the vService.

6

Adım 6 Save

Add is clicked. The page is used by being selected in the Content Page field of the Show content and error actions, or in the WAF and L7 DDoS / Threat Protection profiles.

Verification

1PreviewTR7 side

On the Details tab of the preview that opens when the page is clicked in the Content Pages list, the page appears in its rendered form.

ExpectedExpected look, Turkish characters correct

2UsageTR7 side

The Used in tab in the preview shows the actions that use the page.

ExpectedThe actions that select the page are listed

Method 2: WEB-CLI

• How it works The page is created in a single line with the lb page command.
• Where it is opened TR7 WEB-CLI → lb page add
• Requirement WEB-CLI access; the content is written in a single line and without the | character (long HTML pages are prepared from the interface)
• Scope All the actions and profiles that select the page

Step-by-Step Configuration

1

Adım 1 Create the page

A plain text warning page; if --contentType is not written, text/html is used:

lb page add name kisa-uyari --contentType text/plain --content "Servis gecici olarak kapali."

2

Adım 2 Verify the page

lb page list

Verification

1ListTR7 side

The page appears in the lb page list output and in the Content Pages list in the interface.

Expectedkisa-uyari · text/plain

Common Mistakes

The page must fit in the vService buffer

If the presented page exceeds the Buffer size(kB) value of the vService on which it is used minus 2 kB, not only the page but the entire vService configuration cannot be loaded. Large images are not embedded; if needed, a vService Limits profile with a larger Buffer size(kB) value is assigned to the vService.

• Saving a styled page in the Visual editor. The Visual editor converts the content into its own form at the save; manually written pages are edited in the HTML source mode.
• Linking to external resources. The page is often shown while the servers are unreachable; CSS, fonts and images are embedded in the page.
• Selecting the wrong content type. application/json is selected for a JSON response and text/plain for plain text; the value cannot contain spaces.
• Deleting or changing a page that is in use. The Used in tab in the preview lists only actions; the WAF, L7 DDoS / Threat Protection, CAPTCHA and AGS usages are checked separately. An action that uses a deleted page cannot show content (Used in).

How it is done in the documentation

• Content Pages · What Is Content Pages?
• Content Pages · Content
• Content Pages · Usage Locations
• vService Limits · Buffer Size(kB)

Related questions

• Are there ready-made maintenance / error page templates?
• Can I return content directly for certain requests without going to the backend (Show Content)?
• How do I publish a maintenance page?