Host Process triggered - problem with provider

[OlliMuc]

SMF Version: SMF 1.1
Dear SMFies,

I've just been informed by my provider that my SMF 1.1 Forum has been shut down. Reason: Their Apache seemingly can't cope with some of the processes that are used by SMF. Help desk gave me back the following information:

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host -W 1 74.6.87.121
host -W 1 195.93.60.5
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... all of that in the main directory of my SMF installation.

Does ANYONE know how to handle this? First of all, I cannot exactly tell WHAT my providers problem is except that their whole Apache server (including other curstomers on the same partition) seems to suffer from my SMF installation... HELP needed  !!!

[Christian A. Herrnboeck]

Hi,

Ok, first of all - who is your host? That is one of the dumbest replies I have seen yet. I've heard of servers not being able to keep up, but Apache? Huh?

The info they provided... is... interesting, but doesn't tell anyone, anything. Ask your host for the output from

Code Select Expand

ps aux and

Code Select Expand

top

There's nothing you can do to handle this, you need to have a talk with your host, or find a new one.

Best Regards,
Christian A. Herrnboeck

[OlliMuc]

Hi Christian,

thanks a lot for your reply! I was just as dumbfounded as you when my host apporached me with this ... well, "situation". It didn't tell me anything, yet they asked me to "fix this problem, until then my domain stays locked down". I'll contact them tomorrow in order to find out what EXACTLY went wrong ... Judging from your name you seem to be German, so I can pass on the error report I received:

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der Aufruf Ihrer Domain XXX.de erzeugt Prozesse, die den gesamten Webserver blockieren. Bei den Prozessen handelt es sich um Aufrufe des Programms host. Diese blockieren alle Datei-Deskriptoren des Apaches. Aus diesem Grund musste ich Ihre Domain sperren. Bitte deaktivieren Sie die entsprechenden Funktion bzw. sorgen Sie dafür, dass die Prozesse nicht mehr den Webserver behindern, damit wir Ihre Domain wieder freischalten können.
=====

Doesn't really tell me anything ...

[Christian A. Herrnboeck]

Hi,

You were correct, I do speak German

That sounds like "The Apache processes are used to lookup the program's host". What I think they mean, is that the slowdown is caused by the "Lookup Hostname" function in SMF, though I could be wrong.

Perhaps, try disabling that, and seeing if it helps?

Best Regards,
Christian A. Herrnboeck

[KGIII]

Err... Not to throw stones here but, well... If hostname lookup is locking up the server and, really, is such a trivial function wouldn't it be a slightly better choice to review the potential of switching hosts?

[OlliMuc]

Hi,

since I host a little more than 80 different domains with that provider, a change would only be a good option if it's really unavoidable :-)

I got some more feedback:

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The problem is most likely caused by:

/home/www/......./www/forum/Sources/Subs.php on line: 3477

// Try the Linux host command, perhaps?
    if (!isset($host) && strpos(strtolower(PHP_OS), 'win') === false && rand(0, 1) == 1)
    {
        if (!isset($modSettings['host_to_dis']))
            $test = @shell_exec('host -W 1 ' . @escapeshellarg($ip));
        else
            $test = @shell_exec('host ' . @escapeshellarg($ip));
=====

[Christian A. Herrnboeck]

This confirms it.

Your host is telling you the probelm is the "Hostname Lookup" function.

If you disable that in the admin panel, you'll be good to go.

Best Regards,
Christian A. Herrnboeck