Commentüs on: Now on Slicehost: Me! http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2008/04/21/now-on-slicehost Random musings of a Southern geek Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:04:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7-RC1-10041 hourly 1 By: Whither Spam? :: geek ramblings http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2008/04/21/now-on-slicehost/comment-page-1#comment-161733 Whither Spam? :: geek ramblings Sun, 15 Jun 2008 02:38:23 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=903#comment-161733 [...] I switched to my new Slicehost server, I spent a while trying to decide what I wanted to do about email for my domains. I contemplated [...] [...] I switched to my new Slicehost server, I spent a while trying to decide what I wanted to do about email for my domains. I contemplated [...]

]]> By: Web Hosting http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2008/04/21/now-on-slicehost/comment-page-1#comment-161703 Web Hosting Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:53:19 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=903#comment-161703 Is this a VPS? I think this site is definitely a candidate for a vps or maybe even a dedicated depending on how many sites like this you have in your network Is this a VPS? I think this site is definitely a candidate for a vps or maybe even a dedicated depending on how many sites like this you have in your network

]]> By: Syndactyly forums up and running again :: geek ramblings http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2008/04/21/now-on-slicehost/comment-page-1#comment-161605 Syndactyly forums up and running again :: geek ramblings Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:12:40 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=903#comment-161605 [...] I switched to my new host, I was in a rush to get all my domains up and running, and I somehow managed to forget to [...] [...] I switched to my new host, I was in a rush to get all my domains up and running, and I somehow managed to forget to [...]

]]> By: fak3r http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2008/04/21/now-on-slicehost/comment-page-1#comment-161499 fak3r Wed, 28 May 2008 18:34:52 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=903#comment-161499 I can't say enough about Varnish, the reverse-proxy caching app that is a huge step up from Squid. It's dead simple to use too, install it, have it run on port 80 and point requests to your webserver (I recommend nginx) running on a diff port like 82. After that, learn what you can do with the config of the vcl file that determines how/what gets cached - done. http://varnish.projects.linpro.no/ I can’t say enough about Varnish, the reverse-proxy caching app that is a huge step up from Squid. It’s dead simple to use too, install it, have it run on port 80 and point requests to your webserver (I recommend nginx) running on a diff port like 82. After that, learn what you can do with the config of the vcl file that determines how/what gets cached - done.

http://varnish.projects.linpro.no/

]]> By: Dan Milward http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2008/04/21/now-on-slicehost/comment-page-1#comment-161457 Dan Milward Sat, 24 May 2008 05:21:45 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=903#comment-161457 Hi Dougal. Thanks for the reply, I appreciate the time. I'm pretty certain that there was a memory leak in CentOS. Anyway it was too hard to fix so we have rebuilt the server using Debian (we heard that it is what wp.com use) and we will be testing it on Monday - after which I'll be able to confirm whether we were correct regarding the leak. Some other things that we're going to do to ensure this projects runs smooth: - explore the use of nginx - host images & files on S3 - explore using FastCGI Ciao,... Dan Hi Dougal. Thanks for the reply, I appreciate the time. I’m pretty certain that there was a memory leak in CentOS. Anyway it was too hard to fix so we have rebuilt the server using Debian (we heard that it is what wp.com use) and we will be testing it on Monday - after which I’ll be able to confirm whether we were correct regarding the leak.

Some other things that we’re going to do to ensure this projects runs smooth:
- explore the use of nginx
- host images & files on S3
- explore using FastCGI

Ciao,… Dan

]]> By: Dougal http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2008/04/21/now-on-slicehost/comment-page-1#comment-161453 Dougal Fri, 23 May 2008 18:19:35 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=903#comment-161453 Dan: I got a similar notice at one point. In my case, I think I had somehow ended up with two separate sets of Apache processes running (probably by using <code>/etc/init.d/apache2</code> to start one time, and using <code>apache2ctl</code> to start another time). Once I got all the apache processes killed and restarted it fresh, everything seemed to settle down. I also ended up installing <a href="http://xcache.lighttpd.net/">XCache</a> for PHP opcode and var caching, along with the <a href="http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=12">XCache Backend for WP</a>. The high memory usage of mod_php apps like WordPress is a common problem. If you can't work around it by other means, you might consider researching how to switch to FastCGI for your Apache/PHP config. I haven't gone that far yet, but it's worth consideration for sites with high usage requirements. Dan: I got a similar notice at one point. In my case, I think I had somehow ended up with two separate sets of Apache processes running (probably by using /etc/init.d/apache2 to start one time, and using apache2ctl to start another time). Once I got all the apache processes killed and restarted it fresh, everything seemed to settle down. I also ended up installing XCache for PHP opcode and var caching, along with the XCache Backend for WP.

The high memory usage of mod_php apps like WordPress is a common problem. If you can’t work around it by other means, you might consider researching how to switch to FastCGI for your Apache/PHP config. I haven’t gone that far yet, but it’s worth consideration for sites with high usage requirements.

]]> By: Dan Milward http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2008/04/21/now-on-slicehost/comment-page-1#comment-161439 Dan Milward Thu, 22 May 2008 00:07:24 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=903#comment-161439 We just moved a new MPMU site to Slicehost and it seems pretty good. Last night though I got an automated email from Slicehost saying that I have having memory issues: <em>This is an automatic notification to let you know that your slice is showing a considerable amount of consistent swapping activity. Quite often this is an indicator that your application or database are not as efficient as they could be. It also may indicate that you need to upgrade your slice for more RAM.</em> We are using a vanilla WordPress MU 1.5.1 install on a Centos built. And the very scary thing is that we were not even taking hits at the time. I think that the Slicehost automated service may have just identified a memory leak / problem with WPMU? We just moved a new MPMU site to Slicehost and it seems pretty good.

Last night though I got an automated email from Slicehost saying that I have having memory issues:

This is an automatic notification to let you know that your slice is showing a considerable amount of consistent swapping activity. Quite often this is an indicator that your application or database are not as efficient as they could be. It also may indicate that you need to upgrade your slice for more RAM.

We are using a vanilla WordPress MU 1.5.1 install on a Centos built. And the very scary thing is that we were not even taking hits at the time.

I think that the Slicehost automated service may have just identified a memory leak / problem with WPMU?

]]> By: Dougal http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2008/04/21/now-on-slicehost/comment-page-1#comment-161431 Dougal Wed, 21 May 2008 16:05:09 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=903#comment-161431 So far, so good. The real test will come when I get around to posting something new about WordPress, which usually generates a decent traffic spike. So far, so good. The real test will come when I get around to posting something new about WordPress, which usually generates a decent traffic spike.

]]> By: DontDudeMe http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2008/04/21/now-on-slicehost/comment-page-1#comment-161409 DontDudeMe Mon, 19 May 2008 17:27:01 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=903#comment-161409 I'm curious as to whether you are still happy with SliceHost? I'm in the position of having to either re-up my annual hosting contract shortly, or move elsewhere. I'm not totally dis-satisfied with my current host, but am interested in moving enough to do some research. I’m curious as to whether you are still happy with SliceHost? I’m in the position of having to either re-up my annual hosting contract shortly, or move elsewhere. I’m not totally dis-satisfied with my current host, but am interested in moving enough to do some research.

]]> By: A Burn http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2008/04/21/now-on-slicehost/comment-page-1#comment-161328 A Burn Wed, 07 May 2008 03:19:36 +0000 http://dougal.gunters.org/?p=903#comment-161328 Who were you using before? Why did you switch? I am thinking about switching but I'm not sure who to go with. Thanks! Who were you using before? Why did you switch? I am thinking about switching but I’m not sure who to go with.

Thanks!

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