Architecture
The D6 Engine comes in two unique configurations: Simple and Advanced configuration. Depending on the use case, different features can be applied and used. The Advance configuration requires more upfront planning and setup, however remains one of our clients' favourite till this day.
How It Works
At a high level, each segment defined by the author has a unique code (2-3 characters, though their is no limitation on the length of the code). The unique code is injected at the Apache level into the URL via a selector string. When AEM obtains the request, the page and assets along with its corresponding resolved segments.
For example, a user may request /content/hello/world. At the Apache level we would read a cookie, resolve the segments, and rewrite the URL to /content/hello/world.ny.html. Dispatcher could then provide a cached version of the page, if it has one, or it can request the page from AEM. Once the request gets to AEM, no segment validation occurs. Instead, AEM simply provides the preconfigured/authored content for the specified segment of that webpage. For example, Apache would look for "NY" for pages specific to New York (NY) users and create an URL based on that location.
Simple Configuration
In the Simple architecture, the D6 Engine Apache module is not used and instead Apache mod_rewrites are used to inject selector strings into URLs. In a simple setup many websites have easier use cases where most of the content is segmented and tailored for distinct personas that do not overlap. These include:
- Logged in versus not logged in
- Investors vs advisors
- Regionalization (Ontario/Quebec/BC/Alberta etc)
- Residential vs commercial clients
In all cases the entire website has a finite number of possible variations. The website can and is most likely to have segmentation applied across the main landing pages, therefore the Simple architecture is all that is needed to accomplish the business goals of customized website for more than one persona.
Advanced Configuration
The Advanced architecture provides more functionalities and capabilities than the Basic. As a result, more features and control is possible. The Advanced architecture:
- Only segments that match a webpage are added
- Multi segment resolution
- Access to personalized data on all data points
- Resolution of segments at the Apache level
- Access to more data points (location, weather, timezone)
- Ability to update segments in real time without a deployment or configuration change
- Ability to run A/B test
- Abilty to segment based on users past behavior (visits, browsing history, etc.)
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