> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.preprod.world/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Integrate a CDN resource with X-Cart 4.4.x

X-Cart 4.4.x can serve skin, image, and cache assets from a Gcore CDN [custom domain](/cdn/cdn-resource-options/general/create-and-set-a-custom-domain-for-the-content-delivery-via-cdn) by editing core PHP and Smarty files. These steps apply only to X-Cart 4.4.x. X-Cart 5.x uses a different architecture and is not covered here.

Create a [CDN resource](/cdn/getting-started/create-a-cdn-resource/create-a-cdn-resource) before starting the integration.

<Warning>
  Back up the site files and database before making changes. Core file edits are overwritten by X-Cart upgrades — reapply them after each upgrade if needed.
</Warning>

Before editing X-Cart, collect the **custom domain** value to use in the code samples — it typically looks like `cdn.site.com`. Replace every `cdn.site.com` occurrence with that hostname, and replace every `shop.example.com` occurrence with the storefront hostname:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the CDN resource">
    In the [Gcore Customer Portal](https://portal.gcore.com), navigate to **CDN** > **CDN resources** and open the resource.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy the custom domain">
    Note the **custom domain** shown for the resource — this is the hostname to use in the X-Cart file edits. Do not use the Gcore target hostname (`cl-****.gcdn.co`).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm the DNS CNAME">
    Confirm that the custom domain has a CNAME record pointing to the Gcore target hostname shown in the Customer Portal (`cl-****.gcdn.co`).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm SSL">
    Confirm the custom domain has a valid SSL certificate so assets can load over HTTPS.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test origin asset paths">
    Request a known skin file, image, and generated cache file directly from the configured origin. Use the same paths that X-Cart exposes for each file, and confirm that the responses contain the expected assets instead of `403` or `404` errors.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Then update X-Cart. Use either a dynamic or fixed skin path in `smarty.php`, then apply the remaining file edits.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Rewrite skin and image URLs">
    Open `smarty.php` in the X-Cart root directory. Find:

    ```php theme={null}
    $smarty->assign('ImagesDir', $xcart_web_dir . $smarty_skin_dir . '/images');
    $smarty->assign('SkinDir', $xcart_web_dir . $smarty_skin_dir);
    ```

    Replace those lines with one of the following blocks. Both options use HTTPS because the custom domain requires an active SSL certificate:

    1. Use the dynamic skin path to keep the active `$smarty_skin_dir` value:

    ```php theme={null}
    $smarty->assign('ImagesDir', "https://cdn.site.com" . $smarty_skin_dir . '/images');
    $smarty->assign('SkinDir', "https://cdn.site.com" . $smarty_skin_dir);
    ```

    2. Use the fixed skin path to hardcode the `ideal_comfort` skin. If the store uses a different skin, change `ideal_comfort` to that skin directory name:

    ```php theme={null}
    $smarty->assign("SkinDir","https://cdn.site.com/skin/ideal_comfort");
    $smarty->assign("ImagesDir","https://cdn.site.com/skin/ideal_comfort/images");
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Rewrite deferred cache URLs">
    Open `/include/templater/plugins/function.load_defer_code.php`. Find:

    ```php theme={null}
    $cacheWebFile = $var_dirs_web['cache'] . '/' . $label . '.' . $md5Suffix . '.' . $type;
    ```

    Replace it with the following code. It preserves `$var_dirs_web['cache']`, so the HTTPS URL follows the configured X-Cart cache path:

    ```php theme={null}
    $cacheWebFile = "https://cdn.site.com" . $var_dirs_web['cache'] . '/' . $label . '.' . $md5Suffix . '.' . $type;
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Rewrite the file URL location">
    Open `/include/func/func.files.php`. Find, but don't replace:

    ```php theme={null}
    global $config, $sql_tbl, $xcart_dir, $current_location;
    ```

    Immediately after that line, add:

    ```php theme={null}
    $current_location = 'https://cdn.site.com';
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Rewrite category image URLs">
    Open `/include/templater/plugins/function.get_category_image_url.php`. Find:

    ```php theme={null}
    return func_convert_amp(func_get_image_url($category['categoryid'], 'C', $category['image_path']));
    ```

    Replace it with the following code, using the storefront hostname in place of `shop.example.com`:

    ```php theme={null}
    return str_replace("shop.example.com", "cdn.site.com", func_convert_amp(func_get_image_url($category['categoryid'], 'C', $category['image_path'])));
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Rewrite banner image URLs">
    Open `/skin/common_files/modules/Banner_System/banner_rotator.tpl`. Find:

    ```
    src="{$content.image_path|amp}"
    ```

    Replace it with:

    ```
    src="{$content.image_path|amp|replace:'shop.example.com':'cdn.site.com'}"
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Clear X-Cart caches">
    Run the `cleanup.php` utility from the X-Cart root URL to clear compiled Smarty templates. Clear the contents of `var/cache` through the store's standard deployment process if generated application cache files remain, but retain the directory and its permissions.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm the integration">
    1. Open the browser developer tools.
    2. Select the **Network** tab.
    3. Refresh the page.
    4. Confirm that static files load from the custom domain instead of the original domain.

    If the browser blocks fonts referenced by skin CSS, configure CDN responses for the font files to include an `Access-Control-Allow-Origin` header. Set the header to the storefront origin, or to `*` only when unrestricted public font access is appropriate.
  </Step>
</Steps>