> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://gcore-doc-1894.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Integrate a CDN resource with WordPress using W3 Total Cache

W3 Total Cache is a WordPress plugin that rewrites static file URLs so browsers request those files from a Gcore CDN custom domain instead of the origin. A [CDN resource](/cdn/getting-started/create-a-cdn-resource/create-a-cdn-resource) must exist first, and the [custom domain](/cdn/cdn-resource-options/general/create-and-set-a-custom-domain-for-the-content-delivery-via-cdn) must have a CNAME record pointing to the `*.gcdn.co` target shown in the CDN resource's **Setup guide**.

<Warning>
  Back up the WordPress files and database before installing the plugin. These steps assume a default WordPress file layout. A heavily customized layout might not rewrite URLs correctly.
</Warning>

## W3 Total Cache plugin setup

W3 Total Cache adds a **Performance** menu to the WordPress admin sidebar after it is activated.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the plugin installer">
    Log in to WordPress admin (`example.com/wp-admin`) and navigate to **Plugins** > **Add Plugin**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install and activate the plugin">
    In **Search Plugins**, enter `W3 Total Cache`. On the W3 Total Cache card by BoldGrid, click **Install Now**, then **Activate**.

    If the **Setup Guide** wizard opens, click **SKIP** to reach the settings pages.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## W3 Total Cache CDN settings

Generic Mirror is the W3 Total Cache type that rewrites hostnames in HTML without pushing files to a storage API. That is the type to use with Gcore CDN.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enable Generic Mirror">
    Navigate to **Performance** > **General Settings** and scroll to the **CDN** section.

    1. Select **Enable**.

    2. In **CDN Type**, select **Generic Mirror**.

    3. Click **Save Settings**.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/gcore-doc-1894/3z195f11z8sZ1rxy/images/docs/cdn/getting-started/integrate-cdn-with-cms/wordpress/integrate-cdn-resource-with-wordpress-w3-total-cache-plugin/07.PNG?fit=max&auto=format&n=3z195f11z8sZ1rxy&q=85&s=bb1104655135af08c73808c38cfdea00" alt="CDN section with Enable selected and Generic Mirror as the CDN type" width="1640" height="582" data-path="images/docs/cdn/getting-started/integrate-cdn-with-cms/wordpress/integrate-cdn-resource-with-wordpress-w3-total-cache-plugin/07.PNG" />
    </Frame>

    A notice appears because the hostname field is still empty: *A configuration issue prevents CDN from working: The "Replace default hostname with" field cannot be empty.* Click **Specify it here**, or navigate to **Performance** > **CDN**.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/gcore-doc-1894/3z195f11z8sZ1rxy/images/docs/cdn/getting-started/integrate-cdn-with-cms/wordpress/integrate-cdn-resource-with-wordpress-w3-total-cache-plugin/10.PNG?fit=max&auto=format&n=3z195f11z8sZ1rxy&q=85&s=688057aa6ab42bfd22faa7efc28d43a3" alt="Notice that the hostname field is empty, with a Specify it here link" width="788" height="66" data-path="images/docs/cdn/getting-started/integrate-cdn-with-cms/wordpress/integrate-cdn-resource-with-wordpress-w3-total-cache-plugin/10.PNG" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the custom domain">
    In **Replace site's hostname with**, enter the custom domain from the [Gcore Customer Portal](https://portal.gcore.com) (**CDN** > **CDN resources**). Use the custom domain (`cdn.example.com`), not the `gcdn.co` hostname. Click **Save Settings & Purge Caches** to save and clear cached HTML so pages are regenerated with the CDN hostname. If only **Save Settings** is available, navigate to **Performance** > **Purge All Caches** separately.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/gcore-doc-1894/3z195f11z8sZ1rxy/images/docs/cdn/getting-started/integrate-cdn-with-cms/wordpress/integrate-cdn-resource-with-wordpress-w3-total-cache-plugin/09.PNG?fit=max&auto=format&n=3z195f11z8sZ1rxy&q=85&s=19ca34ff19cf9fc740cc4a94e098d30e" alt="Replace site's hostname with field and Save Settings on the CDN page" width="1218" height="404" data-path="images/docs/cdn/getting-started/integrate-cdn-with-cms/wordpress/integrate-cdn-resource-with-wordpress-w3-total-cache-plugin/09.PNG" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm CDN delivery">
    Open the site in a logged-out private browser window. In browser developer tools, open **Network**, disable the browser cache, and reload the page. Static files should request the custom domain instead of the origin hostname. Select a cached asset and confirm that a repeated request returns `HIT` in the `Cache` response header.
  </Step>
</Steps>