Server Overloaded - Optimization Needed

[HappymanUK]

My site has recently been featured in several magazines and newspapers, and is receiving a VERY HIGH number of hits.

The problem is pages failing to load, and the processor on the 'top' command showing 0% idle for a very long time.

The site is PHP based, and uses a MySQL server.

I have run an optimize on the database, but this hasn't help.

Any help appreciated.

---- Server Specs ----
Athlon – 1.7Ghz
512 MB Ram
1x 80GB HDD
Fedora
Cpanel/WHM
MySQL 4.1.21
Apache 1.3.37
--------------------
free -m
total used free shared buffers cached
Mem: 720 316 404 0 6 81
-/+ buffers/cache: 228 492
Swap: 988 248 740
--------------------
ps aux

USER PID %CPU %MEM VSZ RSS TTY STAT START TIME COMMAND
root 1 0.0 0.0 1692 364 ? S Oct05 0:02 init [3]
root 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S Oct05 0:00 [migration/0]
root 3 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SN Oct05 0:00 [ksoftirqd/0]
root 4 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S Oct05 0:00 [watchdog/0]
root 5 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< Oct05 0:00 [events/0]
root 6 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< Oct05 0:00 [khelper]
root 7 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< Oct05 0:00 [kthread]
root 9 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< Oct05 0:02 [kblockd/0]
root 10 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< Oct05 0:00 [kacpid]
root 59 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< Oct05 0:00 [khubd]
root 181 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< Oct05 0:00 [aio/0]
root 182 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< Oct05 0:00 [xfslogd/0]
root 183 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< Oct05 0:00 [xfsdatad/0]
root 184 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< Oct05 0:00 [xfsbufd]
root 180 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S Oct05 0:33 [kswapd0]
root 770 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< Oct05 0:00 [kseriod]
root 861 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< Oct05 0:00 [ata/0]
root 894 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< Oct05 0:00 [kcryptd/0]
root 895 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< Oct05 0:00 [kmpathd/0]
root 896 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< Oct05 0:00 [kmirrord]
root 900 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S Oct05 0:02 [kjournald]
root 2736 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S Oct05 0:00 [kjournald]
root 2737 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S Oct05 0:15 [kjournald]
root 2738 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S Oct05 0:00 [kjournald]
root 2739 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S Oct05 0:05 [kjournald]
root 2740 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S Oct05 0:08 [kjournald]
root 2815 0.0 0.0 1588 280 ? S<s Oct05 0:00 udevd
named 3323 0.6 1.3 39456 9860 ? Ssl Oct05 8:49 /usr/sbin/named -u named
root 3338 0.0 0.0 1596 460 ? Ss Oct05 0:04 syslogd -m 0
root 3342 0.0 0.0 1540 344 ? Ss Oct05 0:00 klogd -x
root 3379 0.0 0.0 1528 200 ? S Oct05 0:00 /usr/sbin/courierlogger -pid=/var/spool/authdaemon/pid -facili
root 3380 0.0 0.0 1848 344 ? S Oct05 0:00 /usr/libexec/courier-authlib/authdaemond
root 3381 0.0 0.0 1848 296 ? S Oct05 0:00 /usr/libexec/courier-authlib/authdaemond
root 3382 0.0 0.0 1848 296 ? S Oct05 0:00 /usr/libexec/courier-authlib/authdaemond
root 3383 0.0 0.0 1848 220 ? S Oct05 0:00 /usr/libexec/courier-authlib/authdaemond
root 3384 0.0 0.0 1848 296 ? S Oct05 0:00 /usr/libexec/courier-authlib/authdaemond
root 3385 0.0 0.0 1848 220 ? S Oct05 0:00 /usr/libexec/courier-authlib/authdaemond
root 3454 0.0 0.0 1824 408 ? S Oct05 0:00 /usr/sbin/smartd
root 3463 0.0 0.0 1536 280 ? Ss Oct05 0:00 /usr/sbin/acpid
root 3493 0.0 0.0 3988 240 ? Ss Oct05 0:00 /usr/sbin/sshd
root 3505 0.0 0.0 2152 392 ? Ss Oct05 0:00 xinetd -stayalive -pidfile /var/run/xinetd.pid
root 3514 0.0 0.0 4292 388 ? S Oct05 0:00 /bin/sh /usr/bin/mysqld_safe --datadir=/var/lib/mysql --pid-fi
mysql 3538 10.4 3.7 148692 27772 ? Sl Oct05 145:38 /usr/sbin/mysqld --basedir=/ --datadir=/var/lib/mysql --user=m
root 3584 0.0 0.0 1528 272 ? S Oct05 0:00 /usr/sbin/courierlogger -pid=/var/run/imapd.pid -start -name=i
root 3585 0.0 0.0 1636 368 ? S Oct05 0:00 /usr/lib/courier-imap/libexec/couriertcpd -address=0 -maxprocs
root 3593 0.0 0.0 1532 148 ? S Oct05 0:00 /usr/sbin/courierlogger -pid=/var/run/imapd-ssl.pid -start -na
root 3594 0.0 0.0 1632 288 ? S Oct05 0:00 /usr/lib/courier-imap/libexec/couriertcpd -address=0 -maxprocs
root 3601 0.0 0.0 1532 276 ? S Oct05 0:00 /usr/sbin/courierlogger -pid=/var/run/pop3d.pid -start -name=p
root 3602 0.0 0.0 1632 364 ? S Oct05 0:00 /usr/lib/courier-imap/libexec/couriertcpd -address=0 -maxprocs
root 3610 0.0 0.0 1528 148 ? S Oct05 0:00 /usr/sbin/courierlogger -pid=/var/run/pop3d-ssl.pid -start -na
root 3611 0.0 0.0 1632 288 ? S Oct05 0:00 /usr/lib/courier-imap/libexec/couriertcpd -address=0 -maxprocs
root 4029 0.0 0.0 17020 184 ? Ss Oct05 0:00 /usr/sbin/clamd
root 4139 0.0 0.3 25588 2580 ? Ss Oct05 0:08 /usr/bin/spamd -d --allowed-ips=127.0.0.1 --pidfile=/var/run/s
root 4149 0.1 2.1 50844 15752 ? Ssl Oct05 1:26 /usr/sbin/clamd
mailnull 4153 0.0 0.0 7288 416 ? Ss Oct05 0:00 /usr/sbin/exim -bd -oX 26
mailnull 4159 0.0 0.0 7284 524 ? Ss Oct05 0:01 /usr/sbin/exim -bd -q60m
mailnull 4164 0.0 0.0 7276 360 ? Ss Oct05 0:00 /usr/sbin/exim -tls-on-connect -bd -oX 465
root 4169 0.1 0.2 8880 1496 ? S Oct05 1:34 lfd - sleeping
root 4235 0.0 0.0 4460 448 ? Ss Oct05 0:00 crond
root 4251 0.0 0.0 1700 320 ? Ss Oct05 0:00 /usr/sbin/atd
root 4375 0.0 0.1 3120 816 ? S Oct05 0:02 antirelayd
root 4616 0.0 0.0 6160 336 ? Ss Oct05 0:00 pure-ftpd (SERVER)
root 4631 0.0 0.0 5700 304 ? S Oct05 0:00 /usr/sbin/pure-authd -s /var/run/ftpd.sock -r /usr/sbin/pureau
dbus 5051 0.0 0.0 2308 268 ? Ss Oct05 0:00 dbus-daemon-1 --system
root 5105 0.0 0.1 5940 1064 ? Ss Oct05 0:03 hald
root 5195 0.0 0.0 1556 280 ? Ss Oct05 0:00 /usr/sbin/portsentry -tcp
root 5334 0.0 0.0 1532 268 tty1 Ss+ Oct05 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty1
root 5335 0.0 0.0 1528 268 tty2 Ss+ Oct05 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty2
root 5336 0.0 0.0 1528 268 tty3 Ss+ Oct05 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty3
root 5337 0.0 0.0 1528 268 tty4 Ss+ Oct05 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty4
root 5338 0.0 0.0 1532 268 tty5 Ss+ Oct05 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty5
root 5602 0.0 0.0 1528 268 tty6 Ss+ Oct05 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty6
root 12655 0.0 0.2 11880 2084 ? S Oct05 0:02 chkservd
root 22591 0.0 0.1 6984 1400 ? S 03:31 0:01 cpbandwd
root 22659 0.0 0.1 16860 1384 ? SN 03:31 0:17 cpanellogd - sleeping for logs
mailnull 22676 0.0 0.1 7780 1456 ? S 03:31 0:00 eximstats
mailman 22742 0.0 0.0 10288 500 ? Ss 03:31 0:00 /usr/local/bin/python2.4 /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/bi
mailman 22743 0.0 0.1 10100 1048 ? S 03:31 0:01 /usr/local/bin/python2.4 /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/bi
mailman 22744 0.0 0.1 10096 1064 ? S 03:31 0:01 /usr/local/bin/python2.4 /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/bi
mailman 22745 0.0 0.1 10076 1048 ? S 03:31 0:01 /usr/local/bin/python2.4 /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/bi
mailman 22746 0.0 0.1 10132 1060 ? S 03:31 0:01 /usr/local/bin/python2.4 /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/bi
mailman 22751 0.0 0.1 10084 1072 ? S 03:31 0:01 /usr/local/bin/python2.4 /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/bi

 

[HappymanUK]

mailman 22752 0.0 0.1 10096 1084 ? S 03:31 0:01 /usr/local/bin/python2.4 /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/bi
mailman 22753 0.0 0.1 10096 1060 ? S 03:31 0:01 /usr/local/bin/python2.4 /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/bi
mailman 22754 0.0 0.1 10100 1068 ? S 03:31 0:00 /usr/local/bin/python2.4 /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/bi
root 22928 0.0 0.3 17536 2460 ? S 03:32 0:00 cpsrvd - waiting for connections
root 25685 0.0 0.0 7804 616 ? Ss 04:02 0:00 cupsd
djbnet 503 0.3 0.1 30472 1028 ? S 07:27 1:15 spamd child
root 3986 0.0 0.1 7024 796 ? Rs 07:37 0:05 sshd: root@pts/0
root 4087 0.0 0.1 4432 872 pts/0 Ss 07:37 0:00 -bash
root 10428 0.5 2.6 30280 19252 ? S 09:37 1:36 spamd child
root 12183 0.0 0.0 11952 404 ? S 11:24 0:00 /etc/authlib/authProg
root 21739 0.0 0.2 11948 1492 ? S 11:36 0:00 /etc/authlib/authProg
root 25667 0.0 0.2 11948 1896 ? S 11:41 0:00 /etc/authlib/authProg
root 9518 0.0 0.2 11948 2112 ? S 12:19 0:00 /etc/authlib/authProg
root 12695 0.0 0.0 11948 424 ? S 12:30 0:00 /etc/authlib/authProg
root 19489 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 12:38 0:00 [pdflush]
root 7836 0.3 2.8 28624 21076 ? S 13:16 0:10 spamd child
root 2783 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 13:58 0:00 [pdflush]
root 9039 0.3 0.7 13448 5552 ? Ss 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9058 0.4 0.7 14152 5652 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9059 0.2 0.7 14152 5640 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9060 0.4 0.7 14128 5604 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9061 0.4 0.7 14152 5656 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9062 0.2 0.7 14144 5600 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9068 1.6 1.4 18976 10600 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9069 0.3 0.7 14116 5576 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9070 0.1 0.7 14160 5548 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9072 0.3 0.7 14128 5568 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9073 0.2 0.7 14164 5640 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9074 0.2 0.7 14128 5628 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9076 0.3 0.7 14144 5576 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9078 0.2 0.7 14128 5616 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9079 0.2 0.7 14160 5580 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9080 0.3 0.7 14152 5640 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9081 0.3 0.7 14128 5604 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9082 0.3 0.7 14144 5588 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9083 0.4 0.7 14256 5712 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9084 0.3 0.7 14184 5676 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9085 0.2 0.7 14092 5552 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9092 0.3 0.7 14144 5592 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9093 0.3 0.8 14928 6280 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9094 0.2 0.7 14116 5604 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9095 0.5 0.7 14148 5640 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9096 0.4 0.7 14128 5652 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9099 0.1 0.7 13976 5308 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9100 0.2 0.7 14160 5580 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9101 0.2 0.7 14160 5584 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9102 0.2 0.7 14348 5748 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9103 0.3 0.7 14108 5560 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9105 0.3 0.7 14124 5576 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9106 0.2 0.7 14116 5556 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9107 0.4 0.7 14168 5664 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9108 0.3 0.7 14348 5788 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9109 0.4 0.7 14148 5624 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9113 0.2 0.7 14148 5564 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9116 0.3 0.7 14084 5588 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9118 0.3 0.7 14124 5616 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9119 0.1 0.7 14128 5524 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9120 0.4 0.7 14128 5656 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9122 0.2 0.7 14124 5560 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9124 0.6 0.7 14128 5636 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9125 0.3 0.7 14152 5632 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9126 0.2 0.7 14168 5588 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9127 0.3 0.7 14160 5556 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9132 0.3 0.7 14160 5640 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9133 0.4 0.7 14164 5644 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9134 0.2 0.7 14176 5636 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9135 0.3 0.7 14128 5576 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9136 0.1 0.7 14108 5584 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9140 0.3 0.7 14128 5532 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9142 0.3 0.7 14144 5592 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9143 0.4 0.7 14352 5780 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9149 0.4 0.7 14152 5628 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9150 0.5 0.7 14148 5660 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL

 

[HappymanUK]

nobody 9152 0.2 0.7 14128 5576 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9155 0.3 0.7 14164 5680 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9156 0.5 0.7 14152 5660 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9157 0.0 0.7 13968 5316 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9159 0.4 0.7 14164 5604 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9161 0.3 0.7 14176 5668 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9164 0.4 0.7 14152 5628 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9165 0.6 0.7 14124 5608 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9166 0.3 0.7 14164 5640 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9167 0.4 0.7 14176 5620 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9169 0.2 0.7 14132 5616 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9170 0.2 0.7 14108 5600 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9171 0.4 0.7 14148 5628 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9184 0.4 0.7 14144 5576 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9185 0.3 0.7 14144 5584 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9190 0.7 0.7 14160 5652 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9192 0.2 0.7 14108 5548 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9193 0.4 0.7 14128 5600 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9194 0.6 0.7 14160 5668 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9195 0.3 0.7 14148 5656 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9202 0.5 0.7 14144 5628 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9204 0.1 0.7 14128 5532 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9205 0.4 0.7 14108 5608 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9206 0.8 0.7 14124 5616 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9207 0.3 0.7 14128 5568 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9218 0.4 0.7 14164 5604 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9220 0.6 0.7 14176 5660 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9227 0.6 0.7 14124 5612 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9228 0.3 0.7 14280 5704 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9229 0.1 0.7 14128 5656 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9235 0.2 0.7 14124 5516 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9236 0.5 0.7 14172 5656 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9237 0.3 0.7 14128 5564 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9245 0.2 0.7 14124 5568 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9246 0.2 0.7 14160 5552 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9252 0.3 0.7 14128 5572 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9254 1.0 0.7 14128 5612 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9255 0.2 0.7 14144 5652 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9257 0.5 0.7 14124 5580 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9258 0.3 0.7 14116 5572 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9264 0.4 0.7 14236 5632 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9265 0.4 0.7 14172 5644 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9267 0.6 0.7 14128 5608 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9268 0.3 0.7 14124 5556 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9269 0.3 0.7 14172 5660 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9283 0.7 0.7 14128 5612 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9284 0.3 0.7 14144 5644 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9286 0.7 0.7 14124 5628 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9287 0.5 0.7 14124 5628 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9288 0.4 0.7 14128 5608 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9311 0.5 0.7 14124 5624 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9312 0.1 0.7 14016 5308 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9313 0.6 0.7 14176 5696 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9315 0.7 0.7 14164 5668 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9316 0.5 0.7 14144 5612 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9323 0.5 0.7 14124 5624 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9324 0.2 0.7 14164 5584 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9326 0.4 0.7 14124 5628 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9327 0.2 0.7 14124 5552 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9328 0.3 0.7 14108 5580 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9335 0.2 0.7 14144 5528 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9336 0.5 0.7 14144 5584 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9339 0.6 0.7 14124 5596 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9340 0.4 0.7 14152 5660 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9343 0.4 0.7 14144 5664 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9351 0.4 0.7 14164 5664 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9352 0.3 0.7 14144 5552 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9353 0.5 0.7 14128 5608 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9354 0.4 0.7 14172 5644 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9355 0.6 0.7 14288 5700 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9360 0.4 0.7 14124 5516 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9361 0.4 0.7 14124 5572 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9362 0.2 0.7 14124 5520 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9363 0.2 0.7 14136 5548 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9364 0.3 0.7 14176 5580 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9394 0.6 0.7 14128 5572 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9398 0.0 0.6 13608 4784 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9413 0.4 0.7 14152 5564 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9414 0.2 0.7 14124 5608 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9415 0.5 0.7 14108 5592 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9439 0.5 0.7 14124 5636 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9440 0.3 0.7 14232 5672 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9441 0.5 0.7 14128 5564 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9442 0.5 0.7 14176 5652 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9443 0.5 0.7 14128 5568 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9453 0.2 0.7 14176 5584 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9454 0.6 0.7 14172 5676 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9455 0.6 0.7 14124 5600 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9456 0.3 0.7 14124 5600 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9457 0.3 0.7 14116 5572 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9463 0.2 0.7 14128 5612 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9464 0.4 0.7 14180 5640 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9465 0.3 0.7 14220 5680 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9466 0.4 0.7 14108 5544 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
nobody 9467 0.4 0.7 14108 5616 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
root 9980 0.0 0.1 2380 748 pts/0 R+ 14:08 0:00 ps aux

------------------------------------

Thanks in advance for any help,

Daniel

 

[designeru]

Well...

Now this is a real post(s) .

Ask your provider to check if your server is not ddosed.
You can set in /usr/local/apache/conf/httpd.conf the "KeepAlive"setting to off (it will help you a lot).
Optimize your PHP code... i guess you should start with this.
... finnaly, if none helped... upgrade your server.

 

[pamos]

Hi, djblamire.

If you need to optimize your server, please do contact me, i'll try to do it remotely.

Thanks.

 

[MarkPW]

Follow the advice of designeru above.

Other than this, make sure you optimise your mysql queries/database on your site and it might be worth taking a look at mysql's query caching.

I've had similar load problems in the past and turning keep-alive off and optimising my queries made a huge impact for me. I think your server specs aren't exactly helping your situation either though.

 

[HappymanUK]

Now this is a real post(s) .

Ask your provider to check if your server is not ddosed.
You can set in /usr/local/apache/conf/httpd.conf the "KeepAlive"setting to off (it will help you a lot).
Optimize your PHP code... i guess you should start with this.
... finnaly, if none helped... upgrade your server.

The server was definitely not 'ddosed'. There were literally hundreds of visitors trying to access the site at the same time.

What does the 'KeepAlive' setting actually do? - Will visitors notice any difference ??

Also, I reduced the 'MacClients' from 150 to 125 in httpd.conf, and it seemed to help, but again, I'm not entirely sure what effect this will have to people accessing the site.

Also, what exactly is meant by 'optimising queries' ? - Do you just mean the way the code is written ??

I've optimized all the databases too, although the main one didn't seem to need it.

Thanks again,
Daniel

 

[AndyReed]

What does the 'KeepAlive' setting actually do? - Will visitors notice any difference ??

This is a direct quote form Apache Core Features site:

"The Keep-Alive extension to HTTP/1.0 and the persistent connection feature of HTTP/1.1 provide long-lived HTTP sessions which allow multiple requests to be sent over the same TCP connection." I am not sure if KeepAlive will help that much in your case.

Also, I reduced the 'MacClients' from 150 to 125 in httpd.conf, and it seemed to help, but again, I'm not entirely sure what effect this will have to people accessing the site.

Not much effect.
To accommodate the high traffic on your Web site, you need to increase your RAM up to 1GB, or probably more. If your site gets real high traffic, you'll have to upgrade your server to P4 2.x with 1GB RAM and 100 MBPS Uplink.

 

[matthewdavis]

Upgrade your ram, if you don't want to put too much work into optimizing your sql calls and the php code. You'll pay dearly if your sql server starts hitting swap. You want to keep all calls made by mysql in ram.