What changes can I make to sysctl.conf to make the server perform better?

There's a really useful post about server optimisation here: http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=340239

(Tuning sysctl.conf is discussed under heading 4 of that post)

 

Will you please stop posting threads that having nothing to do with cPanel, but everything to do with general server management. That is not the purpose of these forums. If you don't understand server management, I would suggest you go on over to tldp.org and other relevant sites.