httpd process hogging CPU; need help!

[X-Fan]

G'day all,

I'm needing help with tracking down an httpd process that is regularly chewing up over 90% of the CPU of the server my vBulletin forums reside on. I'm no UNIX/SQL/PHP expert, so whilst I can see and kill the troublesome process, I've no idea how to track down what is causing it!

I'm running vBulletin v2.2.8 with vbPortal v3.0 Upgrade pr8.1 for vBulletin 2.2.4 and 4images v1.7 with vBulletin v2.x Integration, and can provide a full list of the hacks I've installed so as to help track down the problem.

I'm really needing help with this. My site was down for all but 30 minutes today, and it's killing us! :speechless:

Please help!!!

[Erwin]

First of all, vBPortal is a huge resource hog - it can use up to 100 over queries on your homepage. I don't know anything about 4images. As to which httpd process, look at your server logs, and find out what is being called again and again (or get your host to investigate this).

[X-Fan]

Erwin, do you mean it can use up to 100 queries on the vbPortal index.php page, or on the vBulletin index.php page?

[Erwin]

vBPortal index.php - each latest thread is 1 query, and all the templates are queried unless you add them to the templatesused="" in index.php (which is not added properly by default). When I was using it, I found out that that index page had over 200 queries!!! :)

Your site is down now.

Try this URL to see the queries on your vBPortal index:

http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/index.php?showqueries=1

If it doesn't work, it means you are using a newer version of vB - in which case, turn debug mode ON in your Admin CP and try that URL again.

Remember to turn debug mode back to OFF - leaving it on is a security risk. :)

[X-Fan]

I'd try that, but that process is once again hogging 90+% of the CPU. I can't even ssh in to reboot the server my site is on!

This is so incredibly frustrating, and it's really hurting my site (which is my full-time job). I'm at a loss as to what to do to resolve this. :(

[X-Fan]

Being unfamiliar with UNIX, I'm wondering what a single httpd process entails. Is it just one user viewing a particular page, or does it encompass a bunch of page requests?

It's just one httpd process that's regularly hogging the CPU, and I really need to find out what's causing it to do that.

[Erwin]

Are you on a dedicated server? I suggest you post this problem on vB.com in their server forum, and see if eva2000 and other server gurus can help. Mind you, vB.com may not support you as your board is hacked.

Also, get your host to reboot the server for you.

By the way, I see you are a fellow Aussie. :) I'm in Melbourne.

[X-Fan]

Erwin, yep, it's a dedicated server.

I'll try posting at vb.com, but you're right, I likely won't get help as it's a hacked board.

As for rebooting, my site's host is likely sick of getting reboot requests from me!

Thanks for taking the time to try and help. It's very much appreciated; especially from a fellow Aussie! :) (I'm in Adelaide).

[Erwin]

If your site is getting busy, I suggest changing from a resource-hungry addon like vBPortal to something that is just a minor add-on to vB like vBHome Lite or vBIndex. Or upgrade your server.

What is your current server load? Your current server stats? How many users online at once?

Anyway, the people at vB.com are good - they can offer you better advice.

[X-Fan]

Erwin, the only real reasons I use vbPortal are 1) for its banner admin system, as I sell ad space on my site, and 2) for its ability to list the most recent articles from specified forums on the front page, as my site is predominantly a news site.

Do either vBHome or vBIndex provide such functionality?

And how on earth would I uninstall vbPortal, since it's so integrated into vBulletin?

I can't check the current server load/stats or users online as that rogue httpd process is preventing me from loading up the site or logging into the admin (being on 56k doesn't help either!), but usually the server load is around 4-5 and there's usually 100+ users online at any given time.

[Erwin]

Originally posted by X-Fan
Do either vBHome or vBIndex provide such functionality?


Yes, they can. In fact, you can do it WITHOUT a portal system, with 2 hacks found here. :) I'll PM you my forums site so you can see how I run a "portal" page on my forums index.php with NO portal system (after being a user of vBPortal for a while).


And how on earth would I uninstall vbPortal, since it's so integrated into vBulletin?

Easy - just delete the files, and remove 2 lines from index.php and global.php. :) You can just look at the text file on www.phpportals.com that tells you how to manually install it, so you can uninstall it.


I can't check the current server load/stats or users online as that rogue httpd process is preventing me from loading up the site or logging into the admin (being on 56k doesn't help either!), but usually the server load is around 4-5 and there's usually 100+ users online at any given time.

100+ users with a server load of 4-5 is too high for a dedicated server.

I have about the same as you, up to 250 at once, and my server load is never above 3. Remember, 4-5 server load means that your CPU is overloaded by 4 to 5 times or 400-500% - 0.1 means 10% of your CPU being used. 1 means 100% of your CPU being used.

Upgrade to dual-CPUs if you haven't yet.

[X-Fan]

Current server load stats (after the host rebooted the server):

2.56, 2.26, 1.55 160 users online (40 members & 120 guests).

4.88, 2.86, 1.95 164 users online (43 members & 121 guests).

5.30, 3.36, 2.20 172 users online (44 members & 128 guests).

2.27, 2.86, 2.16 169 users online (46 members & 123 guests).

3.12, 3.01, 2.22 173 users online (48 members & 125 guests).

4.36, 3.34, 2.37 173 users online (48 members & 125 guests).

(The above is over about a 5 minute period.)

And from what I can see, vbPortal is prevalent in more than just those two files, especially as I use topics (and would like to retain that functionality as well). Then there's the matter of getting vbPortal out of the SQL database, too. (I'm a real newbie at the tech stuff if you can't guess!)

Also, I'm not seeing any option in the vbPortal admin to turn debug mode on.

{Edited to add extra server load stats).

[Erwin]

It's in the vB Admin CP, vBulletin Options settings section.

[X-Fan]

I'm not seeing a link to that section...

[Erwin]

Originally posted by X-Fan
I'm not seeing a link to that section...

Go to Admin CP, click on vBulletin Options, scroll down and you will see the Debug option.

[X-Fan]

There's no vBulletin Options... only vBulletin (which goes to the vb admin).

[X-Fan]

Server load update...

2.98, 2.88, 2.56 190 users online (48 members & 142 guests).

3.39, 3.06, 2.66 192 users online (49 members & 143 guests).

3.55, 3.11, 2.69 183 users online (48 members & 135 guests).

Now from what I know, that's a little high but not too high that it would cause problems (especially with near 200 users online).

[Erwin]

I am talking about the vB Admin CP, not vBPortal one. :)

[X-Fan]

Nope, no debug mode in the options.

[Erwin]

What the- you're right! It's gone! I could have sworn that there was an option to turn debug on for your server in the vB Admin CP - it may have been removed in the more recent versions. Mmm... you may have to switch it on in your server's config.

[Erwin]

I see you are installing TECK's vBHome Lite hack. :) Good choice. TECK supports his hacks very well and will help you set it up I'm sure.

[Erwin]

Looks like vB has really removed the debug option out of Admin CP for security reasons. I think you can still switch debug on in the forums by adding this line in your config.php in your admin directory:

$debug = 1;

However, I haven't tested this. Try it only if you really want to use ?showqueries or ?explain. :)

[X-Fan]

Since I've removed vBPortal, the site has been running much smoothly. Seems like it may have been the problem (touch wood)!

And yeah, vBHome is a heck of a lot better than vBP. I'm still searching for a banner ad script that duplicates what vBP offered, tho.

[Erwin]

Have look around vB.org - there are a few banner hacks out. You can also use some javascript banner rotataters that are available if you search around too - try www.javascriptkit.com