High server resource loads

[Tonyvic]

So, I'm somewhat baffled.

That's my permanent state these days.

Just before the time when the resources go crazy slip your forum into maintenance mode for an hour or two so as to cut all traffic into your server.

I will give that a go later today, although there are no regular times so will just take pot luck.

Can't your host tell you which process causes issues...?

When I first submitted a ticket requesting help on 24th May, the reply was:

I have checked the logs and found that the memory_limit which is set in global php.ini file is insufficient to execute the file "index.php" which is under "/home/********/public_html/community/". Please check the logs as below :
=======================
[Thu May 24 12:05:31 2012] [error] [client 85.210.161.41] (12)Cannot allocate memory: couldn't create child process: /opt/suphp/sbin/suphp for /home/********/public_html/communit
y/index.php, referer: http://www.*****************.net/community/index.php?topic=7673.0;topicseen

[Thu May 24 10:24:42 2012] [error] [client 82.41.230.54] (12)Cannot allocate memory: couldn't create child process: /opt/suphp/sbin/suphp for /home/naturist/public_html/community
/index.php, referer: http://www.*****************.net/community/index.php?topic=8022.0;topicseen
=======================
I have created a custom php.ini file for your domain and increased the memory_limit from 32 M to 64 M. Now, the error logs which are generation should stop now.

Please feel free to contact if you need any further assistance on this.

The increased memory_limit did seem to help but usage was still maxing out, the next response was:

I suggest that you Please try to optimize your database as well as scripts. It will help you to minimized the resources usage on the server.

Tony

[LiroyvH]

Oh they run suPHP, ask them to check if the server logs for that are not large, so if they have pruned them.
Not doing as such will result in massive performance loss.

Next to that, suPHP is not exactly known for it's super optimized performance, it's a resource hog on a server. It's very secure, but a resource hog.
A better environment would be something like mpm_event with FCGID. Even a Apache DSO with mpm_prefork runs faster than suPHP, heh.

[Tonyvic]

Oh they run suPHP, ask them to check if the server logs for that are not large, so if they have pruned them.
Not doing as such will result in massive performance loss.

Thanks for that CoreISP, I will put that to them tomorrow but will probably get a very vague answer.

I put the forum into 'Maintenance 2' mode for two hours today, and there were no spikes.
If the host can't/won't do anything more I will remove the mods etc. one at a time, in the hope that I can find the culprit.

[kat]

Any joy, with this?

[Tonyvic]

Sorry K@, I thought I had replied to this.

The response from host was something like "suPHP is correctly configured"

I removed a couple of mods and prevented guests from accessing the threads. It seems to have improved the situation but I won't get excited yet. . There has only been one spike in 22 hours today.

If it goes downhill again in the coming days, I've decided to do a clean install of 2.02 & import a backup of the database. If that's ok , I'll add mods back one at a time.

Tony

[ziycon]

If you're going to go down the route of doing a clean install, I would recommend leaving all your mods out for a week or two and monitor the server loads, then add the mods back in and monitor the server loads again for a week or two, this will help narrow down the root cause if spikes occur again after the clean install.

[Tonyvic]

Thanks ziycon,
That's my plan, and hope a week at most will be enough.

[kat]

How'd it go?

[Tonyvic]

How'd it go?

I haven't had time yet, I am trying to keep my boss (wife) happy by building a large raised deck area & it's taking forever .

Hopefully in about a weeks time, I will take the plunge.

Tony

[kat]

Heh... I have one, like that...

[Tonyvic]

Heh... I have one, like that...

Lol!

Now she is happy, I have at last reinstalled with a new set of files.
The first 24 hours has passed without the problem, will update again soon.

Tony

[Night09]

Heh... I have one, like that...

Lol!

Now she is happy, I have at last reinstalled with a new set of files.
The first 24 hours has passed without the problem, will update again soon.

Tony

Sounds like its going well then and hopefully when you put the mods back all stays good. Just do a couple a day so if any cause an issue you got a better idea when it started.   

Im just finishing real wood floor before im wearing it on my head, gotta love wives lol. Meanwhile im stealing as much time as possible to work on a mod. 

[Tonyvic]

I have finally added all mods back after the fresh install, and all looks good.
Been watching the stats, in the last week there have only been 3 brief spikes & none of the one/two hour maxed out that I was getting.
I can live with that, so many thanks for the advice guys.

Im just finishing real wood floor before im wearing it on my head, gotta love wives lol.

I hope you finished it without finding out if it suits you!

Tony