How do I lower the load? The apache connections are eating up all my memory.


Now apache using 60MB per process??? What values should I try tweaking, anyone know?

The first thing I'd do is renice httpd so CPU cycles are freed for other tasks. What is more important is to find out *why* this is happening.

What version of Apache?
What else is running? PHP, MySQL, admin or forum software?
Did you check for all those apps if you're running the latest version?
Do you run the default httpd.conf / includes or what was customised?
Do you run mod_evasive and/or mod_security?
Are there errors in your syslog or application logs?

Apache 1.33
PHP4, MySQL 4.0.26
Everything running latest version
Default httpd.conf but this is a directadmin server
No mod_security
No errors found

Techs spent over 3 days and couldn't find the problem, I've spent countless time looking as well. I was able to reduce the iowait and load, but the swap memory is still being exhausted. Any idea how to find the problem?

I am looking into increasing the swap, would that help?
And how do I go about increasing cache size?

this is a directadmin server
Does that mean you are a reseller?


Techs spent over 3 days and couldn't find the problem
From the hosting party or Directadmin? Do you have any report of what they looked into and tried? Would be a shame to dup efforts.


I was able to reduce the iowait and load
What except reboting did you do?


but the swap memory is still being exhausted.
If more memory is needed than the 1Gb that is available, and post-reboot shows aprox 3K vs 6K processes and knowing a default LAMP wouldn't hog memory like that, what shows if you shut down all the Directadmin components (in essence mimick a clean LAMP setup)?

Does that mean you are a reseller?
No, it is a dedicated server and directadmin is installed on it.


From the hosting party or Directadmin? Do you have any report of what they looked into and tried? Would be a shame to dup efforts.
From the datacenter and my server admin. The datacenter techs concluded not enough memory, my admin thinks its a memory leak but could not find where.


What except reboting did you do?
Did some trial and error with the mysql settings.


If more memory is needed than the 1Gb that is available, and post-reboot shows aprox 3K vs 6K processes and knowing a default LAMP wouldn't hog memory like that, what shows if you shut down all the Directadmin components (in essence mimick a clean LAMP setup)?
I don't know what you mean by 3K vs 6K processes and don't know what LAMP is or means. I am not sure if we've tried shutting off directadmin, but will try it and see if I could get any more performance out of the server.


Thanks!

Look at the differences between the 2 servers, they both have the same specifications, but why are their performance so far apart?

The good server, 1000+ processes, up 25 days, rock solid!


Terrible server, 100 processes, already using 500M of swap???
Ultra low load, iowait almost nothing, but memory is maxed out.



Both servers have:
Same specifications, CPU/RAM/HARD DRIVES/ETC.
Same values for httpd.conf php.ini my.cnf


What exactly is wrong?
Are there other files I could tweak besides the 3 mentioned above?
Please, any experts know??

You're running DeadRat on both of those machines?
Which kernel versions have you got on which one?


Cheers,
Tink

They're both running CentOS 3.5.
Kernel for both is 2.4.21-32.0.1.EL

Centos is close enough to DeadRat :-}

Have a look at this page, more specifically search
the page for kscand and tell me what you think ;}




Cheers,
Tink

Well this got my attention a little:
145950 - high loads / high iowait / up 100% cpu time for kscand on oracle box

But I am running the same kernel on the stable box and don't have any high loads / io wait issues on either server.

Would giving higher priority to httpd help in this situation?


Anyone know this question:
Besides these 3 files php.ini my.cnf httpd.conf are there another configuration file that could affect this?

I don't use mysql, so can't say anything in regards to that.
For apache it depends on how you're organising your
configuration, there may be files per virtual host.

Are both servers running the same applications, too?


Cheers,
Tink

Both are running the same applications. Testing the RAM now, hope that's the problem but doubt it.

See the below URLs. It has been very helpful. If you plan to install firewall, do remember to install only one - either CSF or APF.

Basil - as I have said before, if you have a useful answer to a thread post it in the thread. And don't resurrect ancient threads just to post a link to your site.