What is "load balancing" ??

[Quarks]

Hi

SMF 2.0.2

admin > Server Settings > Load Balancing > "Enable load balancing by load averages"
Tell me what this is, what does it do, should I enable it??

[Jeremy M.]

Hi

SMF 2.0.2

admin > Server Settings > Load Balancing > "Enable load balancing by load averages"
Tell me what this is, what does it do, should I enable it??

The best thing is "if you don't know what it is, don't touch it". . . lol . . I learned my lesson the hard way.

[PokémonS]

Obviously (for me) no.
If you enable it, the database (forum) will stop their processing (or maybe transferring) after x seconds each page.

The best thing is "if you don't know what it is, don't touch it". . . lol . . I learned my lesson the hard way.

Agree with this

[Quarks]

PLEASE stay on topic.
The title of my tread was NOT "If I dont know what something is, should I touch it??"

thanks.

[PokémonS]

Duh, I already said at my previous post D:

Obviously (for me) no, you shouldnt enable it.
If you enable it, the database (forum) will stop their processing (or maybe transferring) after x seconds each page.

Obviously (for me) no.
If you enable it, the database (forum) will stop their processing (or maybe transferring) after x seconds each page.

[Jeremy M.]

PLEASE stay on topic.
The title of my tread was NOT "If I dont know what something is, should I touch it??"

thanks.

No need to get an attitude, man! 

[Quarks]

Its not an attitude.
I need an answer to my questions.

If you dont have the answer then dont post in my thread please.

[Quarks]

Duh, I already said at my previous post D:

Obviously (for me) no, you shouldnt enable it.
If you enable it, the database (forum) will stop their processing (or maybe transferring) after x seconds each page.

Obviously (for me) no.
If you enable it, the database (forum) will stop their processing (or maybe transferring) after x seconds each page.

I read your previous post so there is no need for you to "Quote" yourself.
Like you I am capable of seeing what it obvious.
Anyone can state the obvious.
But I still want to know more about it, from someone who knows what is NOT obvious.

The questions I asked were reasonable, and  I will NOT be ridiculed by you for asking them.

[Colin]

Gentlemen...

[Quarks]

Im sorry Colin, I come here and ask some questions and all I get is flak, that dont help me.

[Colin]

• Enable load balancing by load averages - by enabling this setting, SMF will begin checking the load of your server. Once the load reaches the thresholds you set in the following settings, SMF will begin showing an error message instead of the appropriate page. When the load lessens, the page will be usable again.
• Threshold to disabling automatic database optimization - stops the forum from doing database optimizations at this threshold.
• Threshold to disabling search - stops the forum from allowing searching at this threshold.
• Threshold to disabling all unread topics - stops the forum from allowing members to view their unread topics at this threshold.
• Threshold to disabling unread replies - stops the forum from allowing members to view their unread replies at this threshold.
• Threshold to disabling showing user posts - stops the forum from allowing users to view all member's posts at this threshold.
• Threshold to disabling the forum completely - completely shuts down the forum. It will immediately show an error page and nobody will be able to do anything.

[Quarks]

Thanks Colin I already read that here http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Server_settings

When and why would someone use "load balancing"?

Im on a shared host would there ever be a reason for me to use it?

[Colin]

Simply to limit resources used by the SMF application. I wouldn't see a need unless you are running into server and performance issues. Are you?

[Quarks]

Yes I am, Its a paid server at bluehost.com, we get 404, time outs, and all kinds of error messages when people try to post or login or view the next page. Members report they have to try 10 times to post to a thread. Its a sporadic intermittent short lived outage, happens mostly during the morning web "busy" period.

So like why would it help? On the surface it sounds like it would make things worse.
It sounds like I would just be limiting my resources just to benefit of other sites on the server.

[Colin]

That's not good. This won't help you reduce server load, but it will stop the requests before they can use more of it. How many users are on your forum at a time? What mods do you have installed?

[Quarks]

Hi Colin
The forum is pretty new, at the most 4 users there at once, only 3 of which post allot. Only 15 members most are inactive.

I did not install the forum, I was called in as admin cuz Im they only one who has any tech savvy.
I didnt install any mods, but there were about 10 before I got there.

Ill post the list of them if you want.

[Colin]

Yeah, give your host a ring. Just FYI they are an overseller which is a probable cause of the poor performance. Not sure what an overseller is? Have a look http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=117303.0

[Quarks]

Ya they smelled like over sellers, I phoned them a week ago they are dragging their feet.

We are thinking of moving to "just host", cheap shared hosting, what do you think of them?

Heres the mods:
   Mod Name    Version    
1.    WYSIWYG Quick Reply                    2.3
2.    Effectively Remove SMF Logo            2.0    
3.    css overide                            1.0.1
4.    Sitemap                            2.2.0
5.    css overide                            1.0    
6.    Global Headers Footers             2.0.1
7.    Change Poster Info to the Right Place    1.0
8.    Referrals System                    3.0.3
9.    reCAPTCHA for SMF                    0.9.8a    
10.    BK-SMF Favicon and Custom Global HTML    1.0    
11.    Menu Editor Lite                    1.0.5    
12.    Add PM Info To Header (v1.1)            1.0    
13.    Site Menu                            1.0    
14.    Message Icon Manager               1.2

        Cat Avatars                            1.0

[Colin]

Well, you would be going with the exact same host considering they are both owned by EIG. Nearly 100+ hosts are owned and operated by EIG. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endurance_International_Group

Unfortunately they have a notorious reputation for corrupting quality hosts. Host gator was recently acquired by them and I am hoping a different outcome for them.

[Quarks]

Ok, so If we go "just host" its same crap different pile.
What cheap host would you suggest??
Would hosts you suggest likely be taken over by EIG eventually?

[Kindred]

personally, I have been VERY happy with my host (ICDSoft). I run 4 sites on that host....

[Colin]

Take a look at the Paid Host section.

[Quarks]

So "just host" says this:
Due to their unique load-balancing technology, Just Host rates highly when it comes to reliability. Load balancing means that your site is run by multiple servers, so if one server goes down your site will still be running on another. This result is a downtime of almost zero, with 99.9% infrastructure availability. The servers themselves are industry leading, being made by Dell and carrying huge processor speeds. This is all backed up by lightning-fast backbone connections. In addition to this Just Host utilizes top-level firewalls and a multi-layer security system, making them one of the most reliable web hosting options on the market today.

That sounds really good.
Is their "load-balancing technology" a hoax, or do they just oversell the heck out of it?

[Kindred]

Oh, they may certainly be load balancing...   doesn't help when they have 1000 sites sold with "unlimited" on the same server...

[Quarks]

Ok thanks very much to those who gave useful answers.
Before I go I wanna ask.........
Are there any features or settings in SFM that will help compensate for these sporadic intermittent short lived outage caused by my over selling host??

[Colin]

Nope, I am afraid not.

[Quarks]

Thanks Colin
I am looking into hosts in "Paid Host section".

[rodelio.lagahit]

based on the feedback above, i'm now hesitant of touching this.

would anyone suggest on how to keep our site accessible? scenario is this;

i use a shared hosting account from hostmonster. two separate domains was being used for this.

- the other was powered by wordpress and the other was with SMF

if i blast a news to my 8% of my 900k fans using both sites, wordpress can accommodate a larger chunk of readers while SMF can't be accessible already when it hits 90-100 users at one time.

i have a few mods, will this be the culprit? or it's platform (SMF) it self?

[Arantor]

Then you've got a very heavily modified WordPress, because a stock WP is an order of magnitude less efficient than a stock SMF.

[Kindred]

Yup...   I have had as many as 240 users online and active on an SMF forum at once, where as my Wordpress site chokes when I get 10 google bots plus 10 users...