High Server load

[webturbine]

Please advice me whats wrong:

From first day (its 7th day today) my server load is high (above 20) during day time and server access (mails and sites opening) becomes very slow.

My Machine configuration: Pentium IV 2.4Ghz, 1GB RAM
Centos 4.2+Fant+WHM 10.8.0 cPanel 10.8.1-R113

All sites were running fine in my earlier box Celeron 2.4Ghz + 512MB Ram.

My DC is still investigating the issue.

From TOP C its seen lot of exim and SPAMD processes running

PLEASE SOMEBODY CAN GUIDE ME WHATS WRONG.

Thanking you all in advance.

[mohit]

hi,
first of all you can see whats inside your mail Queue.
if it has a lot of spam you need to clear it accordingly.

Also check which user originated them, if possible investigate and suspend that user.

Check that you've set limits from Tweak Settings on WHM for

Limit the number of times a user can access mails
Prevent pop3 connection floods
The maximum each domain can send out per hour
Include a list of Pop before SMTP senders in the X-PopBeforeSMTP header when relaying mail.

Enable SuExec from Service Configuration

do this much first and post your question for further help.

see ya,
mohit

[webturbine]

Hi Mohit,

Thanx for your reply,

We have alreday completed the procedures you have described on first day of getting control of the server

In my Email Q no emails r there as i regularly clears them (delete the Q once a day)

This overload of cpu happens during day time and by evening its become normal.

More over if 2-3 customers just open their cpanel then also cpu load rises. This is my observation while opening cpanel and seeing the status in TOP C

I do not find excessive mysql connection+excessive user sending mails. All total mails relayed by the server is around 300 maximum per day.

IS THIS HARDWARE ISSUE OR ANY SCRIPTS DEFUNCT ISSUE.... i am confused.

Any help will be highly appreciated.

[mohit]

hi,
if you are not running the latest Stable release updating cpanel might help you.

see ya,
mohit

[umutbesler]

Hi,

The updated kernels of centos have some problems causing high loads.
I have a problem like this and i installed the default kernel from whitebox linux.
System is running perfect now.
You can download the kernel from
ftp://ftp.gtlib.gatech.edu/nv/ao181/...-5.EL.i686.rpm

MAy be it helps you.

[webturbine]

Hi,

I am running Linux version 2.6.9-22 E.L

Is it conflicting wth Centos 4.2

I am confused Today being 8th day and still my server load is not stablizing during day time. Maximum processes running while server load rise is SPAMD for root, CLAMD for root and if just 3-4 customers open their Cpanel.

Hoping anybody having same issue can highlight on this.

[AndyReed]

Hi,

I am running Linux version 2.6.9-22 E.L

Is it conflicting wth Centos 4.2

I am confused Today being 8th day and still my server load is not stablizing during day time. Maximum processes running while server load rise is SPAMD for root, CLAMD for root and if just 3-4 customers open their Cpanel.

Hoping anybody having same issue can highlight on this.

No, Kernel 2.6.9-22 E.L doesn't have any conflict with CentOS. Having said that, I need to remind every body that every server is unique. If you are unable to find a solution in these forums, hire a sys admin.

[umutbesler]

Hi

The kernel you are using is Centos kernel but it is modified by centos team.
It is not the original version of Redhat EL 4 kernel.
There are some bugs reported on Centos bug page for the kernel 2.6.9-22 which causes high loads for some times.

I have these high load problem and when i downgraded to the original kernel my server became running perfect. You can try it.

ftp://ftp.gtlib.gatech.edu/nv/ao181/...-5.EL.i686.rpm

This is the original kernel from Redhat EL 4.

Both Centos and WhiteBox linux are based on Redhat EL.
You can use this kernel.

[Rooter]

Hi,

I am running Linux version 2.6.9-22 E.L

Is it conflicting wth Centos 4.2

I am confused Today being 8th day and still my server load is not stablizing during day time. Maximum processes running while server load rise is SPAMD for root, CLAMD for root and if just 3-4 customers open their Cpanel.

Hoping anybody having same issue can highlight on this.

The "2.6.9-22" release is several months out-of-date. I strongly advise that you update to the latest kernel before trying the older one that originally came with it. Currently the latest, as of the time of writing, for RHEL 4.x and CentOS 4.x is "2.6.9-22.0.2". Be sure to use the SMP kernel if your P4 supports HyperThreading and has it enabled.

rpm -hiv http://mirror.centos.org/centos/4/updates/i386/RPMS/kernel-2.6.9-22.0.2.EL.i686.rpm
rpm -hiv http://mirror.centos.org/centos/4/updates/i386/RPMS/kernel-smp-2.6.9-22.0.2.EL.i686.rpm

I highly recommend that you hire an experienced server administrator to help manage your server.

[webturbine]

Hi,

Thanx for all your kind advice.

My DC has upgraded CPU and Motherboard and now the problem is resolved. Thanx to my DC people and all the users here who took time to read my problem and suggest solution for the same.