High memory usage caused by too many /usr/bin/php processes

attiliok

Active Member
Nov 13, 2013
29
0
1
cPanel Access Level
Root Administrator
Hi,
I have a dedicated server with 50 or 60 accounts on it. Load averages are good, but memory usage is very high and it's caused by lots of /usr/bin/php processes opened (almost 100). I think they are not really running, they probably are zombie processes that are not terminated. If I kill all those processes, or if I restart apache, memory come back to normal, but just for a while. After some minutes it start to grow more and more as you can see later.

I have read everything on this and others forums about mem usage and high server load and those seem the options:

Option 1) Those are zombie processes and the system for some bug is not able to terminate them. Update easy apache, recompile php, and see if it still happens.
Option 2) Those are zombie processes, so create a script that kill all zombie php processes every half hour to solve the problem.
Option 3) Those are note zombie processes, the problem is elsewhere!

So, please, if you think that option 1 is the correct one, do you really think that i should update easy apache? Is'nt it actually a dangerous operation? If the update/recompile fail, will my websites go down?

If you think that option 2 is the right one, can you help me find a way to write a script to accomplish the mentioned task (killing zombie php processes)?

Otherwise, what's the problem for you experience?

Here all the information needed. Thanks in advance for your time.

SERVER INFOS
Code:
/etc/redhat-release:CentOS release 6.7 (Final)
/usr/local/cpanel/version:11.62.0.16
/var/cpanel/envtype:standard
CPANEL=release
Server version: Apache/2.4.12 (Unix)
Server built:   Jun 29 2015 11:18:29
Cpanel::Easy::Apache v3.30.2 rev9999
PHP 5.5.26 (cli) (built: Jun 29 2015 11:31:13)
Copyright (c) 1997-2015 The PHP Group
Zend Engine v2.5.0, Copyright (c) 1998-2015 Zend Technologies
    with the ionCube PHP Loader v4.7.5, Copyright (c) 2002-2014, by ionCube Ltd., and
    with Zend Guard Loader v3.3, Copyright (c) 1998-2014, by Zend Technologies
mysql  Ver 14.14 Distrib 5.6.35, for Linux (x86_64) using  EditLine wrapper
MEM VALUES
Code:
SERVER LOAD    0,708008 (8 CPU)   
USED MEMORY    86,49% (6.945.940 di 8.030.940)   
USED SWAP    18,33% (768.716 di 4.194.300)
PS AUX OUTPUT EXAMPLE
Code:
5907 (Trace) (Kill)    site1    10    0.04      0.67    /usr/bin/php
21289 (Trace) (Kill)    site2    10    0.04      0.64    /usr/bin/php
21293 (Trace) (Kill)    site2    10    0.04      0.64    /usr/bin/php
23864 (Trace) (Kill)    site3    10    0.04      0.63    /usr/bin/php
3011 (Trace) (Kill)    site4    10    0.04      0.59    /usr/bin/php
 

Sagar.webhost

Member
Mar 9, 2017
15
4
3
Guess
cPanel Access Level
Root Administrator
Hello,

There is no harm with option one. Easyapache update process backup apache directory and restore itself if apache+php compile fails. This generally takes around 30-40 mins. Just make sure you don't restart apache service or server when easyapache update is in process. Even if server reboots or apache service restarts, don't worry data is already backup so but in this case you will need to restore it manually.

Regarding zombie processes are you sure those are zombie processes ? You can find zombie processes by executing commands
ps aux |grep "defunct"
ps aux |grep Z

In case of zombie we need to find out parent process using command pstree but I think it will hard to trace parent process and then kill that. Instead I would recommend to restart apache service which will definitely kill zombie processes.

3rd. I think this is not zombie processes issue. It could be just bad code which cause php processes using high memory.
You can find processes using high memory in ascending order using following command.

ps aux --sort -rss
Once you get process ID use command ls -l /proc/PID-Here.

Regards,
Sagar
 
Last edited:

attiliok

Active Member
Nov 13, 2013
29
0
1
cPanel Access Level
Root Administrator
First off all, thanks.
So I can tell they ARE NOT zombie processes. The commands you suggested me stats clearly they are not.
But I'm also quite sure that my problem is not a bad code of a single site. In fact I have many /usr/bin/php processes for almost everyone of my site. Look at the full page result I attach here, it will be more clear.

Code:
USER       PID %CPU %MEM    VSZ   RSS TTY      STAT START   TIME COMMAND
mysql    32720  1.4  6.7 4878508 545000 ?      SLl  Feb10 618:38 /usr/sbin/mysqld --basedir=/usr --datadir=/var/lib/mysql --plugin-dir=/usr/lib64/my
root     17073  0.0  6.0 1027004 486228 ?      Ssl  Mar01   8:51 /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/bin/clamd
root     21306  0.5  1.4 245616 116204 ?       SN   17:51   0:01 spamd child
root     17510  0.5  1.2 222432 100104 ?       SNs  Mar10   6:40 /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/perl/524/bin/perl -T -w /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/bin/s
site1  7158  0.7  1.0 227860 82196 ?        SN   14:33   1:30 /usr/bin/php
648      30305  0.1  1.0 227112 81828 ?        SN   10:11   0:36 /usr/bin/php
site1 15108  0.8  1.0 226632 81208 ?        SN   15:05   1:25 /usr/bin/php
site1 14551  0.9  1.0 227088 81092 ?        SN   15:04   1:41 /usr/bin/php
site2 12967  0.0  0.9 224552 79084 ?        SN   00:54   0:51 /usr/bin/php
724      10862  0.2  0.9 223760 78576 ?        SN   11:35   1:01 /usr/bin/php
716      24244  0.3  0.9 223608 78324 ?        SN   15:45   0:29 /usr/bin/php
724       8810  0.2  0.9 223500 78172 ?        SN   11:22   1:05 /usr/bin/php
724       8812  0.2  0.9 223196 77884 ?        SN   11:22   0:56 /usr/bin/php
716      24238  0.4  0.9 220640 75404 ?        SN   15:45   0:32 /usr/bin/php
site3    5897  0.0  0.9 218104 72740 ?        SN   00:08   0:44 /usr/bin/php
site2 13690  0.0  0.8 216880 71416 ?        SN   00:58   0:55 /usr/bin/php
root     23660  0.0  0.8 191740 70976 ?        SN   15:44   0:00 whostmgr2 - managepid                    ./managepid
site4   6481  0.0  0.8 214104 68612 ?        SN   00:12   0:16 /usr/bin/php
site4   6479  0.0  0.8 213684 68220 ?        SN   00:12   0:26 /usr/bin/php
site2 12965  0.0  0.8 211012 65492 ?        SN   00:54   0:55 /usr/bin/php
site5 10725  0.0  0.8 211288 65444 ?        SN   04:01   0:41 /usr/bin/php
site5  1767  0.0  0.8 210972 65116 ?        SN   10:38   0:22 /usr/bin/php
648       6504  0.0  0.8 210588 65108 ?        SN   00:13   0:46 /usr/bin/php
site6     16122  0.1  0.7 209564 64148 ?        SN   12:08   0:31 /usr/bin/php
site14  5632  1.2  0.7 209624 63684 ?        SN   16:44   0:54 /usr/bin/php
site7   25885  0.2  0.7 208884 63540 ?        SN   05:55   1:56 /usr/bin/php
site3    1139  0.0  0.7 208872 63436 ?        SN   06:53   0:30 /usr/bin/php
716      23676  0.6  0.7 209092 63236 ?        SN   15:45   0:49 /usr/bin/php
site7    2952  0.2  0.7 208340 62724 ?        SN   Mar10   3:05 /usr/bin/php
site7   29535  0.3  0.7 208636 62384 ?        SN   06:20   2:10 /usr/bin/php
site8   503  0.1  0.7 208388 62380 ?        SN   16:20   0:10 /usr/bin/php
665      16610  0.2  0.7 207760 61444 ?        SN   17:28   0:04 /usr/bin/php
site9 24905  0.7  0.7 206332 60880 ?        SN   13:02   2:18 /usr/bin/php
site8  3202  0.2  0.7 206812 60796 ?        SN   16:32   0:13 /usr/bin/php
site4  10354  0.0  0.7 204924 58816 ?        SN   00:36   0:19 /usr/bin/php
site10  8759  0.0  0.7 204424 58716 ?        SN   00:29   0:27 /usr/bin/php -c /etc/httpd/conf/userdata/std/2/site10/php.ini
720      15616  0.0  0.7 204072 58388 ?        SN   01:07   0:07 /usr/bin/php
site10 29930  0.0  0.7 203976 58244 ?        SN   02:46   0:21 /usr/bin/php -c /etc/httpd/conf/userdata/std/2/site10/php.ini
720      15623  0.0  0.7 203876 57984 ?        SN   01:07   0:04 /usr/bin/php
site10  3825  0.0  0.7 203520 57944 ?        SN   03:13   0:25 /usr/bin/php -c /etc/httpd/conf/userdata/std/2/site10/php.ini
665      19019  0.2  0.7 203848 57752 ?        SN   17:38   0:02 /usr/bin/php
site11 12694  1.0  0.7 202904 57704 ?        SN   17:10   0:27 /usr/bin/php
630      17134  0.0  0.7 203000 56904 ?        SN   01:19   0:59 /usr/bin/php
site12  2865  0.0  0.7 203008 56808 ?        SN   Mar10   0:24 /usr/bin/php
site13   3034  0.2  0.6 202092 56200 ?        SN   14:14   0:34 /usr/bin/php
site13   3008  0.3  0.6 201808 56068 ?        SN   14:13   0:45 /usr/bin/php
site14 17477  0.2  0.6 201864 55612 ?        SN   17:31   0:04 /usr/bin/php
site14  5678  0.6  0.6 201168 55276 ?        SN   16:44   0:28 /usr/bin/php
site6      2646  0.1  0.6 199460 54040 ?        SN   Mar10   2:04 /usr/bin/php
site15 24765  0.0  0.6 200316 53908 ?        SN   09:38   0:01 /usr/bin/php
site3    5907  0.0  0.6 198880 53072 ?        SN   00:08   0:30 /usr/bin/php
site6      2744  0.2  0.6 197296 51872 ?        SN   Mar10   2:16 /usr/bin/php
729      23865  0.0  0.6 197444 51812 ?        SN   02:01   0:18 /usr/bin/php
site16   22722  0.0  0.6 197888 51536 ?        SN   05:31   0:01 /usr/bin/php
630       2873  0.0  0.6 197260 51480 ?        SN   Mar10   1:00 /usr/bin/php
site13  29010  0.3  0.6 197480 51452 ?        SN   16:04   0:22 /usr/bin/php
site17 21293  0.0  0.6 197056 51232 ?        SN   01:49   0:24 /usr/bin/php
site17 21289  0.0  0.6 197076 51148 ?        SN   01:49   0:24 /usr/bin/php
site9 28618  0.7  0.6 196808 51148 ?        SN   13:26   2:04 /usr/bin/php
729      23864  0.0  0.6 196720 51012 ?        SN   02:01   0:23 /usr/bin/php
671      10409  0.0  0.6 196320 50708 ?        SN   00:36   0:11 /usr/bin/php
site18  27880  0.2  0.6 195800 50284 ?        SN   02:32   2:03 /usr/bin/php
729      15044  0.0  0.6 196040 49844 ?        SN   04:39   0:42 /usr/bin/php
site9 25750  0.4  0.6 195456 49448 ?        SN   15:53   0:32 /usr/bin/php
671        711  0.0  0.5 193908 48124 ?        SN   16:21   0:00 /usr/bin/php
site19 28694  0.0  0.5 193712 48096 ?        SN   13:27   0:14 /usr/bin/php
site20  5240  0.0  0.5 194032 48092 ?        SN   00:03   0:19 /usr/bin/php
site21   17419  0.6  0.5 193420 48084 ?        SN   12:16   2:17 /usr/bin/php
733      12567  0.0  0.5 193712 47932 ?        SN   04:18   0:01 /usr/bin/php
site21   22760  0.5  0.5 193448 47396 ?        SN   12:51   1:43 /usr/bin/php
site21   19731  0.5  0.5 193172 47264 ?        SN   12:30   1:54 /usr/bin/php
site20 18550  0.0  0.5 192780 47100 ?        SN   05:00   0:17 /usr/bin/php
site22   3011  0.0  0.5 191356 45972 ?        SN   Mar10   0:22 /usr/bin/php
site16   22723  0.0  0.5 192476 45640 ?        SN   05:31   0:00 /usr/bin/php
725      15618  0.0  0.5 191448 45608 ?        SN   01:07   0:02 /usr/bin/php
site22   4786  0.0  0.5 191632 45284 ?        SN   10:57   0:06 /usr/bin/php
site18   2160  0.2  0.5 190680 45172 ?        SN   Mar10   2:13 /usr/bin/php
site23 30709  0.6  0.5 190248 44856 ?        SN   16:10   0:41 /usr/bin/php
site24   2103  0.1  0.5 285620 43012 ?        SN   Mar10   1:18 /usr/bin/php
site24   7772  0.0  0.5 285676 43000 ?        SN   00:21   1:02 /usr/bin/php
site25 14372  0.2  0.5 188780 42828 ?        SN   17:19   0:04 /usr/bin/php
site12  3375  0.0  0.5 187640 42056 ?        SN   10:48   0:08 /usr/bin/php
site11 12690  1.1  0.4 185844 40016 ?        SN   17:10   0:29 /usr/bin/php
site19 22099  0.0  0.4 185160 39276 ?        SN   12:47   0:10 /usr/bin/php
site23 30144  0.5  0.4 184396 38948 ?        SN   16:09   0:35 /usr/bin/php
site26  9595  0.1  0.4 184532 38540 ?        SN   07:54   1:05 /usr/bin/php
717      20494  0.0  0.4 184428 38504 ?        SN   01:42   0:02 /usr/bin/php
726      12861  0.0  0.4 184368 38240 ?        SN   00:52   0:12 /usr/bin/php
site25 14682  0.0  0.4 183824 38080 ?        SN   08:26   0:22 /usr/bin/php
site26 23303  0.1  0.4 183748 37992 ?        SN   09:26   0:47 /usr/bin/php
site27   7198  0.0  0.4 183600 37980 ?        SN   00:18   0:09 /usr/bin/php
717      20491  0.0  0.4 184196 37620 ?        SN   01:42   0:06 /usr/bin/php
site25  4997  0.0  0.4 183572 37608 ?        SN   07:18   0:23 /usr/bin/php
site19 28692  0.0  0.4 183324 37564 ?        SN   13:27   0:09 /usr/bin/php
715      31997  0.2  0.4 183888 37380 ?        SN   13:52   0:34 /usr/bin/php
628       7815  0.0  0.4 183068 37372 ?        SN   00:21   0:10 /usr/bin/php
726      12864  0.0  0.4 182748 36600 ?        SN   00:52   0:21 /usr/bin/php
site28  1075  0.0  0.4 279584 36548 ?        SN   16:24   0:01 /usr/bin/php
site29  1079  0.0  0.4 182384 36460 ?        SN   06:50   0:00 /usr/bin/php
715      32003  0.2  0.4 182572 36164 ?        SN   13:52   0:33 /usr/bin/php
715      31995  0.2  0.4 182252 35912 ?        SN   13:52   0:36 /usr/bin/php
site30 28718  0.0  0.4 181184 34792 ?        SN   13:28   0:05 /usr/bin/php
site28  1073  0.0  0.4 278760 34268 ?        SN   16:24   0:00 /usr/bin/php
704       5892  0.0  0.4 181472 34012 ?        SN   00:08   0:21 /usr/bin/php
site31 16468  0.0  0.4 179456 32880 ?        SN   01:14   0:05 /usr/bin/php
site30 27383  0.1  0.3 177696 31660 ?        SN   13:18   0:29 /usr/bin/php
site32    17400  0.0  0.3 274532 31180 ?        SN   04:56   0:03 /usr/bin/php
site33  2157  0.0  0.3 177188 31096 ?        SN   Mar10   0:16 /usr/bin/php
site34  2095  0.0  0.3 177192 30776 ?        SN   Mar10   0:25 /usr/bin/php
site18  10657  0.2  0.3 176688 30724 ?        SN   17:02   0:08 /usr/bin/php
site35 26653  0.0  0.3 176252 29160 ?        SN   13:15   0:00 /usr/bin/php
site36  21922  0.0  0.3 174492 28044 ?        SN   05:27   0:03 /usr/bin/php
site35 26649  0.0  0.3 174524 27864 ?        SN   13:15   0:01 /usr/bin/php
site37   21911  0.0  0.3 173920 27412 ?        SN   01:54   0:05 /usr/bin/php
site32    17406  0.0  0.3 270444 27272 ?        SN   04:56   0:03 /usr/bin/php
721       2900  0.0  0.3 172660 26332 ?        SN   Mar10   0:06 /usr/bin/php
site38  29264  0.0  0.3 172080 25364 ?        SN   13:30   0:02 /usr/bin/php
site38  21869  0.0  0.3 172064 25360 ?        SN   01:52   0:12 /usr/bin/php
site27  23868  0.0  0.2 169700 24036 ?        SN   02:01   0:03 /usr/bin/php
725      15632  0.0  0.2 169340 23548 ?        SN   01:07   0:01 /usr/bin/php
named     1721  0.0  0.2 772972 21420 ?        Ssl   2016  50:21 /usr/sbin/named -u named
site39 28377  0.0  0.2 265320 21096 ?        SN   06:13   0:00 /usr/bin/php
733      12572  0.0  0.2 165432 19648 ?        SN   04:18   0:01 /usr/bin/php
721      25925  0.0  0.2 164372 18704 ?        SN   05:55   0:04 /usr/bin/php
site34  2093  0.0  0.2 164756 18404 ?        SN   Mar10   0:12 /usr/bin/php
root     31397  0.0  0.2 110464 17828 ?        S    Mar05   2:08 tailwatchd
site40 19907  0.0  0.2 165192 17644 ?        SN   01:39   0:01 /usr/bin/php
704       8703  0.0  0.2 163348 17592 ?        SN   11:20   0:11 /usr/bin/php
root      2033  0.0  0.2  74956 17220 ?        SNs  Mar10   0:02 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -k start
nobody   21441  0.0  0.2  75372 16972 ?        SN   17:53   0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -k start
628      18662  0.0  0.2 162536 16860 ?        SN   05:03   0:08 /usr/bin/php
664      20642  0.0  0.2 260672 16696 ?        SN   12:37   0:05 /usr/bin/php
site29  1076  0.0  0.2 163380 16680 ?        SN   06:50   0:00 /usr/bin/php
site31 32619  0.0  0.2 162484 16576 ?        SN   10:28   0:04 /usr/bin/php
site33 21893  0.0  0.2 162816 16168 ?        SN   05:26   0:08 /usr/bin/php
nobody   21334  0.0  0.1  75224 16052 ?        SN   17:52   0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -k start
nobody   20705  0.0  0.1  75220 16036 ?        SN   17:48   0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -k start
nobody   20619  0.0  0.1  75220 15952 ?        SN   17:47   0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -k start
nobody   21279  0.0  0.1  75220 15936 ?        SN   17:51   0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -k start
nobody   21542  0.0  0.1  75224 15736 ?        SN   17:54   0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -k start
nobody   21545  0.0  0.1  75092 15516 ?        SN   17:54   0:00 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -k start
nobody    2037  0.0  0.1  76160 15512 ?        SN   Mar10   0:05 /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -k start
site38   2195  0.0  0.1 162028 15300 ?        SN   Mar10   0:20 /usr/bin/php
site37   28936  0.0  0.1 162012 15212 ?        SN   06:15   0:01 /usr/bin/php
root      2036  0.0  0.1  54484 14988 ?        SN   Mar10   0:00 /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/bin/perl /usr/local/cpanel/bin/leechprotect
site36  14396  0.0  0.1 161980 14856 ?        SN   15:03   0:00 /usr/bin/php
32005    21487  0.0  0.1 103432 14800 ?        SN   17:54   0:00 webmaild - serving 2.236 --llu=1488916007 --listen=10,11,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 --accepted=1
root     20761  0.0  0.1 103976 14640 ?        SN   17:49   0:00 whostmgrd - serving 79.4 --llu=1488916007 --listen=10,11,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 --accepted=1
32005    20749  0.0  0.1 103248 14568 ?        SN   17:49   0:00 webmaild - serving 93.43 --llu=1488916007 --listen=10,11,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 --accepted=1
root     23563  0.0  0.1 103956 13992 ?        SN   15:44   0:00 whostmgrd - serving 79.4 --llu=1488916007 --listen=10,11,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 --accepted=1
664       1855  0.0  0.1 257848 13868 ?        SN   06:59   0:16 /usr/bin/php
site41  8973  0.0  0.1 160940 13124 ?        SN   14:40   0:01 /usr/bin/php
664       1857  0.0  0.1 256316 12324 ?        SN   06:59   0:22 /usr/bin/php
32005    20750  0.1  0.1 238684 11588 ?        S    17:49   0:00 php-fpm: pool cpanelroundcube                                             
712       7644  0.0  0.1 160152 11544 ?        SN   16:51   0:00 /usr/bin/php
32005    21488  0.1  0.1 238684 11516 ?        S    17:54   0:00 php-fpm: pool cpanelroundcube                                             
site42  4469  0.0  0.1 160148 11432 ?        SN   16:38   0:00 /usr/bin/php
site41  4189  0.0  0.1 159292 11156 ?        SN   16:36   0:00 /usr/bin/php
site43  8777  0.0  0.1 159820 11060 ?        SN   00:29   0:00 /usr/bin/php
site44 29671  0.0  0.1 159244 10532 ?        SN   16:05   0:00 /usr/bin/php
audit    12799  0.0  0.1 256372 10376 ?        SN   00:51   0:00 /usr/bin/php
site45   2961  0.0  0.1 159516 10328 ?        SN   Mar10   0:00 /usr/bin/php
site46 12837  0.0  0.1 159252 10292 ?        SN   00:51   0:00 /usr/bin/php
site47   5795  0.0  0.1 159520 10200 ?        SN   00:05   0:00 /usr/bin/php
site48  2155  0.0  0.1 159516 10192 ?        SN   Mar10   0:00 /usr/bin/php
site49 25982  0.0  0.1 159520 10156 ?        SN   05:58   0:00 /usr/bin/php
site50  13370  0.0  0.1 159504 10132 ?        SN   00:55   0:00 /usr/bin/php
site51 10466  0.0  0.1 159504 10104 ?        SN   00:37   0:00 /usr/bin/php
site52  12899  0.0  0.1 159140 10036 ?        SN   00:53   0:00 /usr/bin/php
site53  2863  0.0  0.1 159140  9888 ?        SN   Mar10   0:00 /usr/bin/php
site54   17017  0.0  0.1 159140  9828 ?        SN   01:16   0:00 /usr/bin/php
site55  5834  0.0  0.1 159140  9648 ?        SN   00:06   0:00 /usr/bin/php
root     23601  0.0  0.1  30228  8376 ?        S    Mar07   0:14 dovecot/config
dovenull 23602  0.0  0.0  51220  7968 ?        S    Mar07   0:29 dovecot/imap-login
root     19067  0.0  0.0 103096  7416 ?        SN   Mar05   0:43 cpsrvd (SSL) - waiting f --llu=1488916007 --listen=10,11,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 --accepted=1
dovenull 23600  0.0  0.0  48436  5716 ?        S    Mar07   0:53 dovecot/pop3-login
root      1699  0.0  0.0 249852  5444 ?        Sl    2016   8:13 /sbin/rsyslogd -i /var/run/syslogd.pid -c 5
root     21389  0.0  0.0  52704  4964 ?        S    17:52   0:00 dovecot/lmtp
root     21485  0.0  0.0 105000  4480 ?        Ss   17:54   0:00 sshd: [email protected]/0
dovenull 23595  0.0  0.0  47352  4280 ?        S    Mar07   0:05 dovecot/imap-login
mailnull 21536  0.0  0.0  72376  4116 ?        S    17:54   0:00 /usr/sbin/exim -bd -q60m -oP /var/spool/exim/exim-daemon.pid
mailnull 21523  0.0  0.0  72376  4068 ?        S    17:54   0:00 /usr/sbin/exim -bd -q60m -oP /var/spool/exim/exim-daemon.pid
dovenull 23594  0.0  0.0  45844  3976 ?        S    Mar07   0:05 dovecot/pop3-login
site56 21249  0.0  0.0  39412  3704 ?        S    17:50   0:00 dovecot/imap
site11  9181  0.0  0.0  41340  3660 ?        S    16:59   0:00 dovecot/imap
726      19981  0.0  0.0  39264  3612 ?        S    17:44   0:00 dovecot/imap
site56 21256  0.0  0.0  39264  3604 ?        S    17:50   0:00 dovecot/imap
site4  29813  0.0  0.0  39696  3548 ?        S    16:07   0:00 dovecot/imap
root     19075  0.0  0.0  61040  3520 ?        SN   Mar05   0:08 queueprocd - wait to process a task
root     14101  0.0  0.0 150552  3360 ?        Ss   Jan31   2:06 /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/perl/524/bin/perl -wT /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/perl/52
site56 21242  0.0  0.0  39256  3324 ?        S    17:50   0:00 dovecot/imap
site4  29816  0.0  0.0  38900  3088 ?        S    16:07   0:00 dovecot/imap
724      25480  0.0  0.0  38860  3032 ?        S    13:06   0:00 dovecot/imap
site11  9184  0.0  0.0  38656  2908 ?        S    16:59   0:00 dovecot/imap
site4  17420  0.0  0.0  38548  2652 ?        S    17:30   0:00 dovecot/imap
site4  17416  0.0  0.0  38548  2648 ?        S    17:30   0:00 dovecot/imap
724      15601  0.0  0.0  38548  2628 ?        S    17:24   0:00 dovecot/imap
root     19079  0.0  0.0  25808  2416 ?        SNs  Mar05   0:36 dnsadmin - dormant mode                    --listen=3
nscd      1798  0.0  0.0 2788944 2380 ?        Ssl   2016  39:58 /usr/sbin/nscd
root     21467  0.0  0.0  31788  2244 ?        S    17:53   0:00 dovecot/auth -w
dovecot  21773  0.0  0.0  31904  2068 ?        S    09:15   0:03 dovecot/auth
716      25916  0.0  0.0 102840  2024 ?        SN   Mar08   0:01 webmaild - serving 79.1. --llu=1488916007 --listen=10,11,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 --accepted=1
root     21496  0.0  0.0 106404  1904 pts/0    Ss   17:54   0:00 -bash
root     19181  0.0  0.0  34556  1760 ?        SN   Mar05   0:35 cPhulkd - processor
root     19163  0.0  0.0 141300  1540 ?        Ss   Mar05   0:30 php-fpm: master process (/usr/local/cpanel/etc/php-fpm.conf)               
mailnull 21541  0.0  0.0  71064  1472 ?        S    17:54   0:00 /usr/sbin/exim -bd -q60m -oP /var/spool/exim/exim-daemon.pid
mailnull 21543  0.0  0.0  71064  1472 ?        S    17:54   0:00 /usr/sbin/exim -bd -q60m -oP /var/spool/exim/exim-daemon.pid
mailnull 21547  0.0  0.0  71064  1472 ?        S    17:54   0:00 /usr/sbin/exim -bd -q60m -oP /var/spool/exim/exim-daemon.pid
root     21548  0.0  0.0 108676  1408 pts/0    R+   17:54   0:00 ps aux --sort -rss
root     19230  0.0  0.0  25804  1372 ?        SN   Mar05   0:00 cpanellogd - sleeping for logs
root      2035  0.0  0.0  11928  1300 ?        SN   Mar10   0:04 /usr/local/cpanel/bin/splitlogs --main=server.myservername.com --mainout=/usr/local
root      2034  0.0  0.0  11928  1280 ?        SN   Mar10   0:05 /usr/local/cpanel/bin/splitlogs --main=server.myservername.com --suffix=-bytes_log
mailnull 17081  0.0  0.0  71024  1240 ?        Ss   Mar01   0:31 /usr/sbin/exim -bd -q60m -oP /var/spool/exim/exim-daemon.pid
root     21528  0.0  0.0  13600  1164 ?        S    17:54   0:00 dovecot/ssl-params
root     23596  0.0  0.0  13860  1088 ?        S    Mar07   0:10 dovecot/log
root         1  0.0  0.0  19232  1080 ?        Ss    2016   2:38 /sbin/init
ntp       3928  0.0  0.0  25820  1012 ?        Ss    2016   1:11 ntpd -u ntp:ntp -p /var/run/ntpd.pid -g
root      4737  0.0  0.0 117096  1004 ?        Ss    2016   1:02 crond
dovecot  16986  0.0  0.0  13604   880 ?        S    Mar01   0:13 dovecot/anvil
root     16982  0.0  0.0  19120   876 ?        Ss   Mar01   0:33 /usr/sbin/dovecot
716      30371  0.0  0.0 137992   808 ?        SN   Mar08   0:00 /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/php/56/bin/php-cgi -c /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/php/56/
root      1599  0.0  0.0  93156   728 ?        S<sl  2016   1:53 auditd
root     19426  0.0  0.0 136136   660 ?        SN   Mar05   0:02 /usr/sbin/pure-authd -s /var/run/ftpd.sock -r /usr/local/cpanel/bin/pureauth
root     19424  0.0  0.0 136756   652 ?        SNs  Mar05   0:01 pure-ftpd (SERVER)                                                               
root     32152  0.0  0.0   9540   640 ?        S    Feb10   0:00 /bin/sh /usr/bin/mysqld_safe --datadir=/var/lib/mysql --pid-file=/var/lib/mysql/ser
root     23663  0.0  0.0   4472   572 ?        SN   15:44   0:00 strace -p 17017
root      1779  0.0  0.0   4080   516 ?        Ss    2016   0:00 /usr/sbin/acpid
root      3917  0.0  0.0  64340   512 ?        Ss    2016   0:00 /usr/sbin/sshd
root      5471  0.0  0.0   4064   508 tty1     Ss+   2016   0:00 /sbin/mingetty /dev/tty1
root      5473  0.0  0.0   4064   508 tty2     Ss+   2016   0:00 /sbin/mingetty /dev/tty2
root      5475  0.0  0.0   4064   508 tty3     Ss+   2016   0:00 /sbin/mingetty /dev/tty3
root      5477  0.0  0.0   4064   508 tty4     Ss+   2016   0:00 /sbin/mingetty /dev/tty4
root      5479  0.0  0.0   4064   508 tty5     Ss+   2016   0:00 /sbin/mingetty /dev/tty5
root      5481  0.0  0.0   4064   508 tty6     Ss+   2016   0:00 /sbin/mingetty /dev/tty6
nagios    4694  0.0  0.0  39788   492 ?        Ss    2016  10:50 nrpe -c /etc/nagios/nrpe.cfg -d
root      5485  0.0  0.0  10652   432 ?        S<    2016   0:00 /sbin/udevd -d
root      4775  0.0  0.0  19424   388 ?        Ss    2016   0:00 /usr/sbin/atd
root       663  0.0  0.0  10648   376 ?        S<s   2016   0:00 /sbin/udevd -d
dbus      1759  0.0  0.0  21432   356 ?        Ss    2016   0:00 dbus-daemon --system
root      1747  0.0  0.0   4584   312 ?        Ss    2016   0:01 mdadm --monitor --scan -f --pid-file=/var/run/mdadm/mdadm.pid
root      5486  0.0  0.0  10644   236 ?        S<    2016   0:00 /sbin/udevd -d
root         2  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kthreadd]
root         3  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:47 [migration/0]
root         4  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   2:36 [ksoftirqd/0]
root         5  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [stopper/0]
root         6  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:09 [watchdog/0]
root         7  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:09 [migration/1]
root         8  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [stopper/1]
root         9  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:49 [ksoftirqd/1]
root        10  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:07 [watchdog/1]
root        11  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:03 [migration/2]
root        12  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [stopper/2]
root        13  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:37 [ksoftirqd/2]
root        14  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:06 [watchdog/2]
root        15  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:01 [migration/3]
root        16  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [stopper/3]
root        17  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:28 [ksoftirqd/3]
root        18  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:07 [watchdog/3]
root        19  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:14 [migration/4]
root        20  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [stopper/4]
root        21  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   1:05 [ksoftirqd/4]
root        22  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:07 [watchdog/4]
root        23  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:24 [migration/5]
root        24  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [stopper/5]
root        25  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:31 [ksoftirqd/5]
root        26  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:06 [watchdog/5]
root        27  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:19 [migration/6]
root        28  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [stopper/6]
root        29  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:38 [ksoftirqd/6]
root        30  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:06 [watchdog/6]
root        31  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:15 [migration/7]
root        32  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [stopper/7]
root        33  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:28 [ksoftirqd/7]
root        34  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:06 [watchdog/7]
root        35  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016  30:46 [events/0]
root        36  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   5:35 [events/1]
root        37  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   5:58 [events/2]
root        38  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   5:02 [events/3]
root        39  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   5:36 [events/4]
root        40  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   5:37 [events/5]
root        41  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   6:06 [events/6]
root        42  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   8:47 [events/7]
root        43  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events/0]
root        44  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events/1]
root        45  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events/2]
root        46  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events/3]
root        47  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events/4]
root        48  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events/5]
root        49  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events/6]
root        50  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events/7]
root        51  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events_long/0]
root        52  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events_long/1]
root        53  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events_long/2]
root        54  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events_long/3]
root        55  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events_long/4]
root        56  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events_long/5]
root        57  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events_long/6]
root        58  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events_long/7]
root        59  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events_power_ef]
root        60  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events_power_ef]
root        61  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events_power_ef]
root        62  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events_power_ef]
root        63  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events_power_ef]
root        64  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events_power_ef]
root        65  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events_power_ef]
root        66  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [events_power_ef]
root        67  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [cgroup]
root        68  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [khelper]
root        69  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [netns]
root        70  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [async/mgr]
root        71  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [pm]
root        72  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:25 [sync_supers]
root        73  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:33 [bdi-default]
root        74  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kintegrityd/0]
root        75  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kintegrityd/1]
root        76  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kintegrityd/2]
root        77  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kintegrityd/3]
root        78  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kintegrityd/4]
root        79  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kintegrityd/5]
root        80  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kintegrityd/6]
root        81  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kintegrityd/7]
root        82  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016  60:44 [kblockd/0]
root        83  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:19 [kblockd/1]
root        84  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:10 [kblockd/2]
root        85  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:05 [kblockd/3]
root        86  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:22 [kblockd/4]
root        87  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:09 [kblockd/5]
root        88  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:07 [kblockd/6]
root        89  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:07 [kblockd/7]
root        90  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kacpid]
root        91  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kacpi_notify]
root        92  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kacpi_hotplug]
root        93  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [ata_aux]
root        94  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [ata_sff/0]
root        95  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [ata_sff/1]
root        96  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [ata_sff/2]
root        97  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [ata_sff/3]
root        98  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [ata_sff/4]
root        99  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [ata_sff/5]
root       100  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [ata_sff/6]
root       101  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [ata_sff/7]
root       102  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [ksuspend_usbd]
root       103  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [khubd]
root       104  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kseriod]
root       105  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [md/0]
root       106  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [md/1]
root       107  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [md/2]
root       108  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [md/3]
root       109  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [md/4]
root       110  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [md/5]
root       111  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [md/6]
root       112  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [md/7]
root       113  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [md_misc/0]
root       114  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [md_misc/1]
root       115  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [md_misc/2]
root       116  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [md_misc/3]
root       117  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [md_misc/4]
root       118  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [md_misc/5]
root       119  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [md_misc/6]
root       120  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [md_misc/7]
root       121  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [linkwatch]
root       123  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:05 [khungtaskd]
root       124  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016  94:55 [kswapd0]
root       125  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        SN    2016   0:00 [ksmd]
root       126  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        SN    2016  15:00 [khugepaged]
root       127  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [aio/0]
root       128  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [aio/1]
root       129  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [aio/2]
root       130  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [aio/3]
root       131  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [aio/4]
root       132  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [aio/5]
root       133  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [aio/6]
root       134  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [aio/7]
root       135  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [crypto/0]
root       136  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [crypto/1]
root       137  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [crypto/2]
root       138  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [crypto/3]
root       139  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [crypto/4]
root       140  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [crypto/5]
root       141  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [crypto/6]
root       142  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [crypto/7]
root       149  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kthrotld/0]
root       150  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kthrotld/1]
root       151  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kthrotld/2]
root       152  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kthrotld/3]
root       153  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kthrotld/4]
root       154  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kthrotld/5]
root       155  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kthrotld/6]
root       156  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kthrotld/7]
root       158  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kpsmoused]
root       159  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [usbhid_resumer]
root       160  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [deferwq]
root       192  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kdmremove]
root       193  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kstriped]
root       348  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [scsi_eh_0]
root       349  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [scsi_eh_1]
root       350  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [scsi_eh_2]
root       351  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [scsi_eh_3]
root       352  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [scsi_eh_4]
root       353  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [scsi_eh_5]
root       421  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [scsi_eh_6]
root       558  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   5:01 [kdmflush]
root       560  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [kdmflush]
root       584  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016  31:52 [jbd2/dm-0-8]
root       585  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
root       971  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        SN    2016   0:00 [kipmi0]
root      1058  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [jbd2/sda2-8]
root      1059  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:00 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
root      1063  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016  53:41 [flush-253:0]
root      1240  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   0:32 [kauditd]
root      1299  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   1:26 [flush-7:0]
root      1304  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<    2016  16:26 [loop0]
root      1305  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S     2016   4:33 [kjournald]
root     23661  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        ZN   15:44   0:00 [ps] <defunct>
 

Sagar.webhost

Member
Mar 9, 2017
15
4
3
Guess
cPanel Access Level
Root Administrator
Hello,

There are lots of php processes running but they doesn't belong to specific site. Also memory usage of individual php script also seems fine. If sites hosted on server are loading with normal speed then I think you just need to add more RAM. I don't see any issue other than this.
 
Last edited:

attiliok

Active Member
Nov 13, 2013
29
0
1
cPanel Access Level
Root Administrator
Thanks again for the good news.
Just one question: many of those processes are running, but, as i can see from apache status, there is nobody visiting the sites related to the processes. Is it normal? Should'nt they be terminated by apache after being used?

Or, if you think that they are currently working, how can I now WHO or WICH PAGE is using the process that seem idle to me and to "apache status"?
 

Sagar.webhost

Member
Mar 9, 2017
15
4
3
Guess
cPanel Access Level
Root Administrator
Hello,

It's hard to tell/predict what could be going on that server. It is possible when single user access one site and php code of index page is designed in such way to execute multiple scripts from that account.. Also many times php codes execute DB query which could execute other php script to generate output to web user. Are these CMS sites like wordpress ?

btw, you can check process details with command

ls -l /proc/7158
here 7158 is process ID from command output you provided in second post.
site1 7158 0.7 1.0 227860 82196 ? SN 14:33 1:30 /usr/bin/php
 
Last edited:

attiliok

Active Member
Nov 13, 2013
29
0
1
cPanel Access Level
Root Administrator
I'm still investigating thanks to your answer... As you suggested I typed the ls -l proc command but it didn't help me, I cannot find information that help me understand what's happening.

I have many wordpress sites, but many of the processes that run and never terminate are not CMS or Wordpress.
As for the link suggested... Thanks! I know that post very well, but it doesn't seem to help.

Thanks again
 
Last edited:

attiliok

Active Member
Nov 13, 2013
29
0
1
cPanel Access Level
Root Administrator
I solved the problem switching from fcgi to suphp.
WITH FCGI i had: one hundred of php process always running, 80% of ram used
WITH SUPHP i have: one ore two php process runnning, 27% of ram used.

I think FCGI, in my case, had a bug (also mentioned in other posts by other users).
Thanks for your help.

Attilio