Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Hosting Security and Technology : Apache slow but light server load

[jimmy_a]

Hello,

I rund a dedicated webserver and I have problems with the Apache webserver. It loads websites very slowly. The amount of users accessing the website is very high though, but for me it is difficult to understand why the server load at Cpanel is low (0.28 with 2 CPU´s) and memory usage is just 31%.
Is that really possible that Apache goes down while the overall server load is low (according to Cpanel). Is there a way to give the Apache webserver more server ressources, because obviously the server is ok. Here are details of the server:

Linux OS: Centos 3.5
Kernel Version(uname -r) 2.4.21-32.0.1.ELsmp
Hardware Information: Pentium 4 HT, 3.0 Ghz, 1024MB RAM
Control Panel(if any) Cpanel 10.2.0-RELEASE 82
Apache 1.3.33 (Unix)

Any help appreciated, the server is managed, but the hoster insists that nothing can be done to solve the problem, just too many user accessing the site....

[aikmedia]

Try to manipulate in this settings in httpd.conf file:

MinSpareServers 5
MaxSpareServers 10
StartServers 5

Maybe it will help

remember to restart apache after changing this values

Adam

[jimmy_a]

Hi Adam,

thanks, will this allocate more server ressources to Apache?

Jim

[aikmedia]

This will run more server instances , so if more users will come httpd will wait for them instead of running next httpd process everytime, try it

[bijo]

Originally posted by aikmedia
Try to manipulate in this settings in httpd.conf file:

MinSpareServers 5
MaxSpareServers 10
StartServers 5

Maybe it will help

remember to restart apache after changing this values

Adam

Hello,

And also change the value of MaxClients from 150 to a higher value. It should solve your problem.

Let me know the status

With regards,
Bijo

[jimmy_a]

now the httpd has the following configuration:


MinSpareServers 10
MaxSpareServers 35
StartServers 10
MaxClients 250

is that OK?

[bijo]

Originally posted by jimmy_a
now the httpd has the following configuration:


MinSpareServers 10
MaxSpareServers 35
StartServers 10
MaxClients 250

is that OK?

Hello,

Its right. I think, If the site has very high traffic, you can change the Max Client option to 400 or 450. and check the status. also you should check the load on the server.

Let me know the status

With regards,
Bijo

[jimmy_a]

thank you very much for your help, it is now a little bit better, but the website still does not load fast enough, but maybe these are the hardware limits.
It is adult content we have on that server and we have been added by a major link list, but I am really surprised what a traffic this can cause. The site owner of that link list wrote me he has 40000 unique visitors a day, and I am wondering what a server he must have to handle all this.

One questions for the httpd.conf file. Can I edit that file with a simple text editor and save as a text file and change the file name back to httpd.conf and upload it to the server using SSH?

Jim

[layer0]

Why not just nano it?

1) nano httpd.
2) Use the arrow keys to scroll around and make changes.
3) To save press: "CTRL+X"
4) Press "Y"
5) Press "Enter"

Done.

GSV

[layer0]

Sorry for double post. But, you can try to install mod_gzip.

http://www.webhostgear.com/249.html

GSV

[The_Overl]

Have you checked that you're not using all the bandwidth you have?

[jimmy_a]

but where can I adjust the bandwith the server can use? also the httpd.conf file?

[The_Overl]

The bandwidth available to your server is decided by your DC, or your internet connection if you run things yourself. If the amount downloaded by visitors comes close to this limit things will start to move significantly slower, because as new downloaders start the old ones havent finished yet, so its like a downward spiral kinda. Just check if you're maxed out or not

[The_Overl]

Installing mod_gzip (or similar) is a good idea if you have more server power than bandwidth and serve mostly compressable content (usually htmp/text that is, usually not pictures and movies).

Try looking at your access logs (run some log file analysis program like webalizer) and determine what uses bandwidth and see if you can do something about it. If you're maxed out, consider getting more bandwidth, or if thats not affordable in the place your server is in, get a different server and set up a mirror in a place where bandwidth is cheaper.

Sorry about spelling and grammar in this post, English is not my first language and i had a few beers too many this evening...