Some Server Upgrades...

[arn]

We upgraded ram on the forum server overnight, and updated to the latest versions of various apps. Which explains some downtime we had overnight.

Hopefully (but not necessarily) this will fix some of the load spikes we've been having. At times during the day, it seemed like the load would spike and slow the server down.

I'm not exactly sure of the specific cause of it, but the short answer is we're probably near our capacity on this server.

Just cause I know these questions will be asked: We're on 4 dedicated servers now: Main site, forums php, forums db, and attachments. Linux boxes. no, not xserves.

arn

 

[Fearless Leader]

ahh thanks, little weirdness going around in macrumors land.

are we getting bigger and experiencing growing pains or was this other little bugs?

 

[arn]

ahh thanks, little weirdness going around in macrumors land.

are we getting bigger and experiencing growing pains or was this other little bugs?

It's probably just a side affect of getting bigger... there's a lot more simultaneous users online at the same time than before.

arn

 

[MacNut]

So the problem isn't peak usage but more people hanging on to the servers.

 

[OutThere]

So the problem isn't peak usage but more people hanging on to the servers.

Sounds like the userbase has gotten bigger overall...meaning that the spikes are higher than they were before and therefore more draining on the server.

As far as I can remember, there aren't usually 1200 users online at 3:30am EST. This is typically a very quiet time when others are asleep and I should be asleep.

 

[synth3tik]

It's my fault, I am on MR way way way to much. Sorry

 

[iBlue]

That explains this then:

(at around 6:30am GMT)

It seems snappier now and I'm hoping it's not just a placebo effect from reading this thread.

 

[Peace]

It does seem snappier than yesterday.Yesterday the forums were loading slowly.

Upgrades always make browsers seem snappier for some odd reason. Whether it be psychological or real.

I remember 2 or 3 years ago having 2100 users visiting meant there was something new out or a special event.

Growing pains.

 

[macEfan]

Just curious how much hard drive space do these forums take up? SATA 15k drives?