Understanding Server Load

[mmanic]

I have signed up for automated support messages. I have received earlier in the week some messages such as this:-

80::Offline
Server Load: 5.63

Now I understand why my site loads were high at the relevant times however can someone explain exactly what the figure of 5.63 in this example means. What does it represent? Is it a percentage? What is an acceptable server load?

Many thanks.

[Cristiano]

I have signed up for automated support messages. I have received earlier in the week some messages such as this:-

80::Offline
Server Load: 5.63

Now I understand why my site loads were high at the relevant times however can someone explain exactly what the figure of 5.63 in this example means. What does it represent? Is it a percentage? What is an acceptable server load?

Many thanks.

Hi Kerrie.. The notifications includes load, 5 minutes before sending the email. Acceptable load average depends on the server configuration & might vary on the nature of processes running on the server. Looking at your server configuration load average below 5 should not be anything to be worried about.

You can check the usage by logging to WHM as root. Access option Server Status >> Daily Process Log

Hope this helps

[mmanic]

Hi Christiano

Thanks for that. Still trying to understand what a server load of say '5' means. Is this 100% utilisation of 5 processors?

Many thanks.

[euksud]

Hi Kerrie,

Server load of '5' does not mean 100% utilisation of 5 processors?

It shows 5 as a server average load which is set as a threshold for the monitoring system. Monitoring system checks the load and then client is informed to check the server.

An average load of 5 is high and it shows that the server might be hanging or slowing down due to any application or a process running on the server. This needs to be fixed, before the load of the server rise again.

Regards,
Stephen S.
Technical Support Team