Server performance statistics!
By Ryan on Thursday 26 March 2009, 11:04 - Hosting - Permalink
The best way to see if your server is doing well and check that you have optimized its power it so have server statistics!
We finally have some nice graphs that let you see your server's CPU usage, network traffic, and your disk's read-write usage. These graphs will give you precious information on how your server is used, and when various usage peaks or low-points occur, so that you can optimize your services.
Below is an example of a server that is rather "active". You can see that the processor is only using on average 16% to 18% of its power (over a 24-hour period), with a peak at 40%. The server is running on 2 shares, and is therefore clearly too powerful for its current needs.
The following example shows the contrary. This server is in serious need of additional shares:
In the image below, you can see that the data disk /xvdb/ performs far more writing (light orange) than reading (dark orange):
Finally, the Network usage graph shows that there is more outgoing traffic than incoming. The server is using about 0.5Mbits, and so here too, you can see that it is too powerful for its real needs:
As a conclusion, your server statistics give you:
We finally have some nice graphs that let you see your server's CPU usage, network traffic, and your disk's read-write usage. These graphs will give you precious information on how your server is used, and when various usage peaks or low-points occur, so that you can optimize your services.
Below is an example of a server that is rather "active". You can see that the processor is only using on average 16% to 18% of its power (over a 24-hour period), with a peak at 40%. The server is running on 2 shares, and is therefore clearly too powerful for its current needs.
The following example shows the contrary. This server is in serious need of additional shares:
In the image below, you can see that the data disk /xvdb/ performs far more writing (light orange) than reading (dark orange):
Finally, the Network usage graph shows that there is more outgoing traffic than incoming. The server is using about 0.5Mbits, and so here too, you can see that it is too powerful for its real needs:
As a conclusion, your server statistics give you:
- help in establishing the right size server for your needs. Imagine, that you run a website on a server with two shares, observing your statistics over a week, you see that your CPU usage is 20% to 25%, and that you are using less than 1Mbits. You may then remove a share and monitor your statistics for the next few days. Your service will remain online and undisturbed and you will simultaneously save money and make an eco-friendly gesture by not wasting resources.
- the ability to create a real "Flex" strategy. If your statistics show a steady wave, or if your peaks occur at distinct times, you can schedule your Flex shares to be added to your server for these periods - at only 3 cents (Euros) per hour, you will often come out a winner!