Server Load - What is "Good", What is "Bad", and What is "UGLY"?

Hello all!

I've just had a vB site up for about 6 months now, so forgive me for being a newbie, but I must ask a newbie question:

What should I expect for Server Load Averages on my forums?

As I said, I have a brand new site, with next to NO traffic, and these are the Server Load Averages currently in my AdminCP:

3.50, 5.75, 7.93

Is that good or bad? What does it mean? How do I interpet these numbers? Are lower numbers better, or higher?

I currently host with 1&1, but I will be switching within the week to HostGator, for larger capacity and hopefully faster speeds.

What should I expect to see for my server load averages once I move to HostGator? That will still be a shared hosting plan, but they are supposed to be much quicker from everyone's posts.

Any understanding you could help bring my way, would be appreciated!

Thanks!
Jeff

[superprogrammer]

3 or below is good
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=117679
http://www.crucialp.com/resources/tu...linux-unix.php

[Marco van Herwaarden]

What kind of server gives these numbers?

How many processors?
Is it dedicated/VPS/Shared?

[NashChristian]

Shared - 2 cpus.

[SEOvB]

mines always at 0.12 to 0.89 with shared hosting over at asmallorange

But you shouldn't worry much about server load if you're on shared hosting, its more then likely out of your control, and unless its causing your site to become slow, i wouldn't worry at all.


(but i would get as far away from 1and1 hosting as i could )

[R1lover]

Anything over 1.0 means that the server is waiting to processing request rather then keeping up. Normally shared hosting you will see numbers in the 2-4 range, while that's not ideal, it's normal for shared hosting.

I run all of my sites on my own dedicated servers and/or vps boxes and for peak performance I keep them at about .75 or less. But I like things fast and quick too!

[NashChristian]

I recently switched over to HostGator, because I was hoping for faster speeds, BUT so far my page load speeds for my vB site have been slower than they were with 1&1! Major bummer!

My HostGator server loads have been running in the high 5's for 2 cpus.

Is there no such thing as a good shared host these days???

[lighti]

Loads in the 5's will certainly mean your php processing time will be slow.

There is such a thing as a good shared host, www.readytohost.net I also hear hostgator has usually good ratings from users here. Perhaps you can ask them about the problem see if they can move you.

[Brandon Sheley]

I like to keep mine under 1, it's mostly around .05 or lower

[pspcrazy]

Mine is always at 3-6 and I can't figure a way to lower it :| I use wordpress, vbulletin, and another site with word press, vbulletin. I use a dedicated quad core server.