Apache server gets stuck very often

[supercain]

Hi,

im running the latest version of xammp on windows 7 and im having problems with apache. The apache runs fine first. The web access is quite fast but the server gets stuck like every 15 minutes and no access is possible unless i stop and restart the server. Also, it wont start right away, sometimes i have to press the start button many times until it engages. I have quite many users but not as many, about 40 people at a time, maybe less. My connection is 100Mbs so i dont understand why it overloads like that. Is it related to any configuration? Please help.

Thank you.

[supercain]

Any answer please?

[Altrea]

Hi supercain,

XAMPP is not made for production environments.
If you want to use it for such purposes, you are on your own.

There are sooo many alternatives and solutions for production environments, from other Webserver Stacks like Zend Server CE up commercial hoster where you can get connection speed and security for just a few bucks. You should choose one of these alternatives.

best wishes,
Altrea

[supercain]

So that means i cant use my own computer as a webserver?? i tried many web hosting alternatives and they all suck and are very expensive. Thats why i would like to have my own webserver. I have 8Gb RAM computer with 3.4Ghz processor and a 100mbps connection so i think i have the required hardware to run my own webserver.

[Altrea]

So that means i cant use my own computer as a webserver??

No. I've just said that XAMPP is not supported here for production environments, so you will not get any help from the moderators here to get your issues solved with XAMPP.
You can do whatever you want with your Computer. You can do whatever you want with XAMPP too (if it fully fits the licenses of the single components you use). But thats like driving a Ferrari over the rocky mountains (it is not supported by technically possible).

Thats why i would like to have my own webserver. I have 8Gb RAM computer with 3.4Ghz processor and a 100mbps connection so i think i have the required hardware to run my own webserver.

If you want to use your own Computer as webserver, why don't you use a webserver stack which is made for production environments?

Or, if you want to have all the freedom you can get, why don't you install and configure the single components you need on your own? That would give you the freedom to update them one by one if needed (which can't be done with XAMPP or many other stacks).

i tried many web hosting alternatives and they all suck and are very expensive.

I've made different experiences, but that depends on the country and your own needs.

best wishes,
Altrea

[supercain]

Thanks. In that case i would like to test the zend server you mentioned in your post. Do you think my computer is capable to be used as a webserver give the specs i already posted? which are its limitations? if i already installed xammp in my computer can i install zend too or must i first uninstall xammp?

Thank you.

[Altrea]

Hi supercain,

Do you think my computer is capable to be used as a webserver give the specs i already posted?

That depends on your own needs. You said all hoster you tested sucked so i think you have some requirements they don't fit.

which are its limitations?

That depends on your own needs too. For me a webserver on my home computer is no alternative because:

• The upload rate is the limiting factor of your internet connection. Everything you do in the internet while your webserver is running will decrease the speed of your Webserver and your internet. Datacenters where the Server of Internet Hoster are standing have a much better connection to the internet backbone.
• security software can slower your webserver at home too and any kind of software installed have influence on your CPU, RAM, compatibility, etc.
• Windows itself (especially the home user versions) is not the most stable os for webserver
• redundancy / high availability will never be as good as the Hoster can do. Good Hoster are using complex systems of special server components and technology to have an availability of more than 99,9%
• the hoster takes full care about the server hardware (maintenance, replacement on damage) without any more cost
• the hoster takes care about electricity and cooling. Just try to find out what your own computer cost for electricity is if you run it 24/7.
• the hoster takes care for hardware and software security. You don't have to do anything to get a full secure system.
• the hoster offer some more service. for example: free domains, automatic backup, other scripting languages, one-click installation-scripts, support and help hotine

As you can see, for me thats no alternative. Maybe you can live with these limitations for the winning of a little bit of more cpu, ram and hdd space.

if i already installed xammp in my computer can i install zend too or must i first uninstall xammp?

You don't need to uninstall it but you cannot run Zend Server CE and XAMPP both at the same time.

best wishes,
Altrea

[supercain]

Thanks. And what about wamp? better or worse than zend server? i run a php forum (Invision Power Board) and no host seems to be suitable to run it smoothly. I get about 50 users within 15 minutes so i dont think thats too many but in shared hostings they throttled me all the time because they said i was using too many resources so i switched to VPS with 2GB RAM but still i had too many server downs. So thats why i came to the conclusion that my only option now is to use my own computer as a webserver since it has specs no affordable VPS has but now i need a server software capable to manage many web connections and i just found out xammp is not. I wonder whether zend or wamp can.

Thank you.

[Altrea]

And what about wamp? better or worse than zend server?

You can't generalize webserver stacks in words like better or worse. That depends on the requirements. All of them have their right to exist.
WAMP is not much different to XAMPP. It is a webserver stack not made for production environments. In comparison with XAMPP it has the advantage that you can change versions of the single components with modules but for the cost of portability and stability.

i run a php forum (Invision Power Board) and no host seems to be suitable to run it smoothly. I get about 50 users within 15 minutes so i dont think thats too many but in shared hostings they throttled me all the time because they said i was using too many resources so i switched to VPS with 2GB RAM but still i had too many server downs.

Board scripts itself normaly doesn't have that high resource requirements, exept you use some addons which permanently produce requests, like chats or games.
Would be helpful to know which resource it used that much (traffic, cpu, ram, hdd) and if the VPS downs are relating to the resource use. Too many unknowns.

now i need a server software capable to manage many web connections and i just found out xammp is not.

XAMPP as well as WAMP and Zend base on well known single components which (if well configured and with the sufficient hardware) can handle several hundred if not thousand of unique users the same time (depending on duration and intensity of the requests). Thats not the reason why XAMPP is not the correct stack for you. But thats a generalization too because of all the unknowns.

I am beginning to think that you simply just don't want to understand. I thought i have explained it as clear as i am able too. English is not my first language, so maybe that's the reason. Because of that this will be my last reply on that topic. Maybe someone else is willing and able to make it clear to you.

There are hosting offers especially for Invision Power Board which can be found with the help of google. Maybe you give one of them a chance.

best wishes anyway,
Altrea

[supercain]

Sorry, but you are the one who doesnt seem to understand. I was just asking some questions. Its not like i am insisting in the same thing. Besides i think you kinda contradict yourself. First you say that Xammp is not suitable for production environments and then you say that if well configured can handle thousands of users. So whats the deal here?? anyway, i thank you for trying although i ended up more confused and its not because of your English. You are just being too ambiguous but never mind. I will handle this myself.

[Altrea]

First you say that Xammp is not suitable for production environments and then you say that if well configured can handle thousands of users.

production environments have more properties than just performance.

[chromenut]

I found this and wanted to try to help Alrea out. In my experience Xampp works very well for production environments, but it takes some work to get it all secured to do so. Alrea was, as far as I understand, only stating that if you use it in a production setting you are on your own. Rightly so, there are too many variables involved in a production setting for the moderators to be able to help much. I also wonder about upgrading the stack - I'm not sure that's entirely true. I've done it, but at the moment I can't say how I did. I think I did a bulk write over, I'll have to try to do it again and see. At any rate, depending on the complexity of the site, amount of traffic, and software running you should be able to use almost any machine without too many problems. I've never had Xampp freeze on me, but then I build my own systems so I don't get many freezes at all (yes it matters). I will note also that I'm on XP 32 and 64.

Good Luck