BlueHost CPU Limit

[ℓєσ gнσѕт]

Last night, twice apperently, my account was froze for ten minutes at a time displaying an error saying that my account was using over the CPU usage limit. I checked though, and no proccess were running, and the only active site I have is BlueHumor.org. Do you think a simple phpBB forum could pull that much? Im not sure exactly how much im allowed, nor am I sure how to find out, and check how much im using.

Ive changed a few load settings, limiting the "users online" setting from 60min to 30, ect. Do you think BH could have caused it, or was it just a freak thing?

My members have been active and all, with 1,000 new posts in two days, but there really wasnt anyone on when this happened, only about 3 of us. I also didnt get to see the message, as both times I was offline...

Anyone using BlueHost know how to check my CPU limit/ how to check how much im currently using? Thanks..

 

[ℓєσ gнσѕт]

Bump because I kinda need this answered as soon as possible...I dont want to bother switching to a VSP that ive managed to get (connections rock) unless I have to as its alot of files to move :\

 

[spyka]

You can use half of the processing power of your server box over a running 60 second time period. So for example, on your 8x core server you can use 240 CPU seconds over 60 real seconds (Looking at it another way you can use 8-10 GHz at all times).

To see how much your usage was, there are logs in your account in the File Manager in the cPanel. Open to the Home folder and then go to /tmp/cpu_exceeded_logs/ then you can see your usage. Check what was your cause first, but usually this happens from MySQL queries and you can try to optimize your database in PHPMyAdmin in the cPanel, or empty out some of your tables if it has large amounts of old data.

phpBB, as a very MySQL intensive program, will most definitely exceed the CPU usage from time to time.

This is the problem with companies like BlueHost and dreamhost - the reason they can offer unlimited space and bandwidth is that you'll NEVER fill it up because you'll exceed the CPU usage before - that's where they get you.

Infact it's the problem with shared hosting general, the only way companies can host 1000+ sites on a single server and ask for $5 a month is by limited the CPU usage to very small amounts

 

[spyka]

http://helpdesk.bluehost.com/kb/index.p ... d=2&id=498

 

[ℓєσ gнσѕт]

Hmmm..thanks for clearing it up, spyka. I suppose the best route is to move to that other server (which we'd be sharing with only one other site).

Again, thanks for the help. Ill need to talk with my now co-owner about this before we decide what to attempt. Whatever it takes at this point, BH isnt going offline.

 

[Murder he Wrote]

BlueHost are known for their low CPU limits, mostly for the reaons spyka mentioned.

When I ran the PixelRaider forum on vBulletin (about the same size as blueHumor is now) I didn't have a problem running the actual software, the only time I was contacted about CPU limits was when I tried making a database backup through the admin panel (same with phpBB3).

Having said that, blueHost do provide their own backup utility that significantly reduces the load on the server whilst backing up your database and / or file system. (cPanel -> Files -> backup Wizard).

 

[Nebulous]

Yeah, I would aviod blue host.. There is plenty of other good shared hosting companies out there. Sometimes the smaller ones are the better ones. Oh yeah and stay away from LunarPages and Cirtex as well. -razz-

 

[CyberFreak]

By the sounds of it anything you do will use to much CPU. If you can't make a simple backup without being warned then you really have no chance at running a forum on them.

 

[Murder he Wrote]

Yeah, I would aviod blue host.. There is plenty of other good shared hosting companies out there. Sometimes the smaller ones are the better ones. Oh yeah and stay away from LunarPages and Cirtex as well. -razz-

blueHost have a lot of advantages over other shared Hosts, for example they haver their own data center, their own (better) version of Fantastico, more features in cPanel and they were votes best support every year since 2004 until present. cPanel Demo -> http://www.bluehost.com/dm/main_cp.html ... ss=demo123

If you can't make a simple backup without being warned then you really have no chance at running a forum on them.

They provide their own backup utility (as I mentioned in my post) which reduces the load on the server. With software's like phpBB backups aren't exactly "simple" either, you'd be surprised at how much resources it takes as opposed to other php apps.

 

[CyberFreak]

Even if they have their own backup facility the limits must still be low to run a site on. If you are having cpu problems on a host which you can make backups using phpBB or vb (should you want too) then a host which doesn't allow that because of the limits then the site will constantly be over their limits just running normally. Their CPU limits must be very low compared to all the other hosts because they are the only host i know that warns your for cpu usage for just making a backup in a forum software.

 

[Murder he Wrote]

Even if they have their own backup facility the limits must still be low to run a site on. If you are having cpu problems on a host which you can make backups using phpBB or vb (should you want too) then a host which doesn't allow that because of the limits then the site will constantly be over their limits just running normally. Their CPU limits must be very low compared to all the other hosts because they are the only host i know that warns your for cpu usage for just making a backup in a forum software.

But you see, that makes for a better hosting experience, Low CPU limits keeps the processors running efficiently.

I've never experienced slow servers on blueHost, and the only downtime I've had was when they moved me to a quieter server (after I asked them). I for one would definitely recommend them to anyone. I mean, a task that takes a few seconds to do (taking a database backup) shouldn't put you off using a web host ~wink~

 

[CyberFreak]

What puts me off is that you have to use their own backup method because you don't have enough CPU allowance.

It doesn't make a good hosting experience if you have traffic coming to your site and keep getting suspended for having more then 7 users online at once. Bluehost might be good if you have a very low traffic forum or a basic html website. Not for forums with decent activity.

 

[spyka]

This is the problem with normal shared hosting. I suggest "grid hosting" - which is similar:

In shared hosting you may have say 10 servers which each have 1000 clients and a 10Ghz CPU (making these numbers up here).

That would mean each client would get about 1% of the CPU power. Because the servers are separate the 1000 clients all have to the share the 10GHz of the CPU on the server they are on, despite the fact that the other 9 servers may be quieter.

In grid hosting all the servers are linked together so if a site requires more than their "share" of CPU power, they "borrow" the CPU power from one of the other servers that has some free because the sites hosted their aren't that busy. So instead of the Maximum CPU power per client (in this example) being 10GHz like in shared hosting it is 100Ghz (of course you'd never use 100%..)

When you link hundreds of servers this way it allows you to easily host high CPU websites on what is still basically shared hosting

 

[spyka]

also, unlike a lot of shared hosts, you are allowed to resell your hosting

and your site is (almost) never offline, if hardware fails or needs replacing then the system simply uses the hardware on one of the other servers..

 

[ℓєσ gнσѕт]

Hmmm...wow.

Well seeing as I doubt I can get BlueHost to switch to grid hosting, and I agree with Fowler about the cpu limits having to be really low...

Plus, its not like BH is the only phpBB board im ever going to host. Theres going to be many others, and having them all run at once would take up more CPU. Using their backup tool wouldnt help if theres 3 phpBB boards pulling the CPU, id be screwed anyway.

Meh, I think we'll just move to the private server for now. Its probably best to have my sites hosted on different hosts anyway, so one down server doesnt mean everything is effected.

 

[Nebulous]

Yeah, I would aviod blue host.. There is plenty of other good shared hosting companies out there. Sometimes the smaller ones are the better ones. Oh yeah and stay away from LunarPages and Cirtex as well. -razz-

blueHost have a lot of advantages over other shared Hosts, for example they haver their own data center, their own (better) version of Fantastico, more features in cPanel and they were votes best support every year since 2004 until present. cPanel Demo -> http://www.bluehost.com/dm/main_cp.html ... ss=demo123

None of that matters if your site is always down due to CPU problems. I run two busy forums so Im sure I would be down all the time.

 

[Murder he Wrote]

Who said anything about your site going down?

You get a warning first, then if nothing is done you get suspended. They have their own utility (for the third time) so you wouldn't even get warned.

 

[ℓєσ gнσѕт]

I didnt get "warned"...but it did go down twice within about half an hour. If it goes down again, what will happen? Surely they wont cut off my service completly, theyd lose me as a customer. Im assuming there would be a reset option in the control panel, or id have to conect support to get it re-activated right?

It shouldnt go down again, as im moving asap, but who knows anymore :\

 

[Nebulous]

Who said anything about your site going down?

You get a warning first, then if nothing is done you get suspended. They have their own utility (for the third time) so you wouldn't even get warned.

down / suspended = same difference.

Surely they wont cut off my service completly, theyd lose me as a customer.

If you are past the point of refund (usally after 30 days) they wont care, they already have your money. Thats how most hosts are.