Currently, we are running apache prefork with the following settings: <IfModule prefork.c> StartServers 8 MinSpareServers 5 MaxSpareServers 20 ServerLimit 256 MaxClients 256 MaxRequestsPerChild 4000 </IfModule> Code (markup): However, for some reason only one apache process appears in the top command, which is the one taking up all of the CPU. It does not share the load between the many started servers. I have another server with the same apache config, but this one shows many apache processes sharing the CPU load. Top info from the problem server: 17:14:54 up 328 days, 22:43, 1 user, load average: 1.50, 1.07, 0.99 296 processes: 293 sleeping, 2 running, 1 zombie, 0 stopped CPU states: cpu user nice system irq softirq iowait idle total 114.8% 0.0% 30.8% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 253.6% cpu00 30.3% 0.0% 7.7% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 61.8% cpu01 26.6% 0.0% 5.3% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 68.0% cpu02 27.2% 0.0% 11.6% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 61.1% cpu03 30.9% 0.0% 6.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 62.8% Mem: 3878644k av, 3390100k used, 488544k free, 0k shrd, 514328k buff 1637424k active, 1553680k inactive Swap: 4096532k av, 233788k used, 3862744k free 1791936k cached PID USER PRI NI SIZE RSS SHARE STAT %CPU %MEM TIME CPU COMMAND 13216 root 16 0 13756 13M 13664 S 74.0 0.3 2:01 3 httpd 14872 mysql 16 0 184M 174M 151M S 50.7 4.6 9222m 3 mysqld 14078 root 22 0 1432 1432 816 R 11.4 0.0 0:02 1 top 22 root 15 0 0 0 0 SW 0.3 0.0 405:52 2 kjournald 641 root 15 0 0 0 0 SW 0.3 0.0 490:31 2 kjournald 640 root 15 0 0 0 0 SW 0.1 0.0 909:26 1 kjournald 12760 root 16 0 2100 2080 1760 S 0.1 0.0 0:00 0 sshd 1 root 16 0 412 376 360 S 0.0 0.0 14:50 1 init 2 root RT 0 0 0 0 SW 0.0 0.0 0:00 0 swapper 3 root RT 0 0 0 0 SW 0.0 0.0 0:00 1 swapper 4 root RT 0 0 0 0 SW 0.0 0.0 0:00 2 swapper Code (markup): Any ideas? Thank you for your help.
AFAIK, first apache process runs as root, because it needs to open port 80 (and 443 if setup), but the subsequent processes will be owned by another user (usually apache or www-data). it seems that the only httpd process that shows up on top is the first one owned by root. Also, this process does not serve any pages. So I don't see anything wrong. What does the output of "ps xau" show?
Thank you for your reply. I understand what you said, and I am aware that the first process runs as root, however this process it the only one that seems to be crunching numbers. Here is the ps aux: [root@web2 root]# ps xau USER PID %CPU %MEM VSZ RSS TTY STAT START TIME COMMAND root 1 0.0 0.0 2364 376 ? S Jan24 14:51 init [3] root 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jan24 0:00 [swapper] root 3 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jan24 0:00 [swapper] root 4 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jan24 0:00 [swapper] root 5 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jan24 0:00 [swapper] root 6 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jan24 6:24 [keventd] root 7 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SWN Jan24 1:14 [ksoftirqd/0] root 8 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SWN Jan24 0:00 [ksoftirqd/1] root 9 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SWN Jan24 0:00 [ksoftirqd/2] root 10 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SWN Jan24 0:00 [ksoftirqd/3] root 12 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jan24 0:00 [bdflush] root 11 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jan24 179:25 [kswapd] root 13 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jan24 292:12 [kupdated] root 14 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jan24 0:00 [mdrecoveryd] root 22 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jan24 407:05 [kjournald] root 75 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jan24 0:00 [khubd] root 639 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jan24 0:05 [kjournald] root 640 0.1 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jan24 911:51 [kjournald] root 641 0.1 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jan24 491:48 [kjournald] root 1715 0.0 0.0 2592 352 ? S Jan24 24:47 irqbalance root 1798 0.0 0.0 2924 572 ? S Jan24 408:41 syslogd -m 0 -a / root 1884 0.0 0.0 2504 340 ? S Jan24 0:00 klogd root 1978 0.0 0.0 6356 1108 ? S Jan24 0:51 /usr/sbin/sshd root 1988 0.0 0.0 4508 840 ? S Jan24 0:00 sshd -f /etc/ssh/ root 2003 0.0 0.0 3748 716 ? S Jan24 1:59 xinetd -stayalive clamav 2012 0.0 0.0 6044 1372 ? S Jan24 0:51 /usr/bin/freshcla root 2298 0.0 0.0 26356 1324 ? S Jan24 0:05 /usr/bin/spamd -d root 2307 0.0 0.0 2152 320 ? S Jan24 0:00 gpm -m /dev/mouse postgres 2578 0.0 0.0 10564 1032 ? S Jan24 8:39 /usr/bin/postmast postgres 2580 0.0 0.0 11556 1064 ? S Jan24 0:34 postgres: stats b postgres 2581 0.0 0.0 10696 1048 ? S Jan24 1:18 postgres: stats c root 2696 0.0 0.0 6160 1348 ? S Jan24 3:44 proftpd: (accepti root 2874 0.0 0.0 4928 1176 ? S Jan24 24:49 /usr/sbin/bandwid root 2883 0.0 0.0 2400 580 ? S Jan24 1:20 crond daemon 2909 0.0 0.0 2684 536 ? S Jan24 0:08 /usr/sbin/atd root 2918 0.0 0.0 4180 640 ? S Jan24 0:03 /usr/sbin/saslaut root 2920 0.0 0.0 4180 640 ? S Jan24 0:03 /usr/sbin/saslaut root 2921 0.0 0.0 4180 640 ? S Jan24 0:03 /usr/sbin/saslaut root 2922 0.0 0.0 4180 640 ? S Jan24 0:03 /usr/sbin/saslaut root 2923 0.0 0.0 4180 640 ? S Jan24 0:03 /usr/sbin/saslaut root 2935 0.0 0.0 3172 292 tty1 S Jan24 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tt root 2936 0.0 0.0 2600 292 tty2 S Jan24 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tt root 2937 0.0 0.0 2420 292 tty3 S Jan24 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tt root 2938 0.0 0.0 2424 292 tty4 S Jan24 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tt root 2939 0.0 0.0 3032 292 tty5 S Jan24 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tt root 2940 0.0 0.0 3084 292 tty6 S Jan24 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tt root 3139 0.0 0.1 4616 4616 ? SL Jan24 46:23 ntpd root 2716 0.0 0.0 8732 1740 ? S< May13 7:47 /usr/sbin/ocwhttp root 2727 0.0 0.4 104608 17928 ? S< May13 4:55 /usr/bin/ensim-py root 14839 0.0 0.0 5332 568 ? S Sep28 0:00 /bin/sh /usr/bin/ mysql 14872 0.0 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Sep28 24:18 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14873 0.0 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Sep28 1:23 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14874 0.0 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Sep28 0:00 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14875 0.0 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Sep28 0:00 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14876 0.0 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Sep28 0:00 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14877 0.0 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Sep28 0:00 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14878 0.0 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Sep28 32:31 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14879 0.0 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Sep28 23:50 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14880 0.0 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Sep28 0:00 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14881 0.1 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Sep28 221:51 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 22925 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov08 145:47 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 22940 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov08 145:47 /usr/sbin/mysqld named 6714 0.2 0.3 82924 14336 ? S Nov16 105:21 named -u named mysql 23274 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov17 119:44 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 26994 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov17 118:16 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 27069 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov17 121:22 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 17763 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov17 118:55 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 29904 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 115:08 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 29983 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 115:39 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 30906 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 123:15 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 30921 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 113:59 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 25479 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 113:18 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 25566 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 130:09 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 28942 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 112:19 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8343 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 114:29 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8346 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 112:35 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8351 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 113:05 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8358 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 111:35 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8361 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 111:30 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8368 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 112:25 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8378 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 111:46 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8477 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 134:33 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8484 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 113:32 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8486 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 112:06 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8497 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 113:11 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8505 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 112:00 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8508 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 113:34 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8510 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 110:46 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8513 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 111:57 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8526 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 111:51 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8583 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 111:37 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8584 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 112:09 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8613 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 111:28 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8688 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 112:33 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8693 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 112:06 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8715 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 121:56 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8716 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 112:54 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8772 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 112:08 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8784 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 119:05 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8787 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 110:36 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8788 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 112:32 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8791 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 111:44 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8793 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 112:46 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8794 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 112:14 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8843 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 111:06 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8854 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 111:58 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8877 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 113:14 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8915 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 113:00 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8919 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 111:48 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8938 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 117:58 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8942 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 111:55 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 8949 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Nov18 113:04 /usr/sbin/mysqld smmsp 18905 0.0 0.0 6924 1860 ? S Nov30 0:00 sendmail: Queue r smmsp 19489 0.0 0.0 7140 1860 ? S Nov30 0:00 sendmail: Queue r smmsp 19563 0.0 0.0 7644 1860 ? S Nov30 0:00 sendmail: Queue r smmsp 19626 0.0 0.0 6780 1860 ? S Nov30 0:00 sendmail: Queue r root 19888 0.0 0.0 7408 1996 ? S Nov30 6:59 sendmail: accepti smmsp 19898 0.0 0.0 6872 1856 ? S Nov30 0:00 sendmail: Queue r nobody 20744 0.0 0.0 8732 1676 ? S< Dec01 0:00 /usr/sbin/fcgi-pm nobody 20749 0.0 0.0 8880 2960 ? S< Dec01 0:00 /usr/sbin/ocwhttp nobody 20752 0.0 0.0 8880 2860 ? S< Dec01 0:00 /usr/sbin/ocwhttp nobody 6863 0.0 0.0 8880 2880 ? S< Dec01 0:00 /usr/sbin/ocwhttp nobody 6949 0.0 0.0 8880 2944 ? S< Dec01 0:00 /usr/sbin/ocwhttp nobody 6950 0.0 0.0 8880 2972 ? S< Dec01 0:00 /usr/sbin/ocwhttp nobody 4926 0.0 0.0 8880 2472 ? S< Dec11 0:00 /usr/sbin/ocwhttp root 4935 0.2 0.0 0 0 ? Z< Dec11 37:16 [ensim-python <de nobody 27449 0.0 0.0 8880 2284 ? S< Dec17 0:00 /usr/sbin/ocwhttp nobody 27542 0.0 0.0 8880 2296 ? S< Dec17 0:00 /usr/sbin/ocwhttp nobody 24448 0.0 0.0 8880 2264 ? S< Dec18 0:00 /usr/sbin/ocwhttp nobody 24538 0.0 0.0 8880 2256 ? S< Dec18 0:00 /usr/sbin/ocwhttp root 13216 0.0 0.3 29108 14268 ? S Dec19 0:45 /usr/sbin/httpd - mysql 14917 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Dec19 3:20 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14921 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Dec19 3:21 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14929 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Dec19 3:18 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14931 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Dec19 3:35 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14932 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Dec19 3:19 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14933 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Dec19 3:30 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14934 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Dec19 3:21 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14936 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Dec19 3:19 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14942 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Dec19 3:05 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14946 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Dec19 3:14 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14947 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Dec19 3:20 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14948 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Dec19 3:12 /usr/sbin/mysqld mysql 14949 0.2 4.6 263956 180268 ? S Dec19 3:17 /usr/sbin/mysqld root 18072 0.0 0.3 29108 14264 ? S 04:19 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - root 18572 0.0 0.1 9108 4292 ? S 10:34 0:03 sendmail: ./nBIGF root 21058 0.0 0.1 9004 4220 ? S 11:35 0:02 sendmail: ./nBIIx root 23582 0.0 0.1 8996 4096 ? S 12:35 0:01 sendmail: ./nBIJM root 26291 0.0 0.1 8840 4016 ? S 13:35 0:01 sendmail: ./nBIGm root 28962 0.0 0.0 8456 3856 ? S 14:35 0:01 sendmail: ./nBJ0g root 32372 0.0 0.0 8352 3732 ? S 15:35 0:00 sendmail: ./nBIJF root 2794 0.0 0.0 8536 3292 ? S 16:35 0:00 sendmail: ./nBIKn apache 4497 0.3 0.6 39832 25672 ? S 17:04 0:04 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 4655 0.2 0.5 34980 20876 ? S 17:08 0:02 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 4668 0.4 0.5 34768 20816 ? S 17:08 0:04 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 4704 0.3 0.5 34680 20636 ? S 17:08 0:03 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 4847 0.4 0.6 39508 25364 ? S 17:12 0:03 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 4870 0.5 0.5 35040 20920 ? S 17:12 0:04 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 4888 0.3 0.5 34396 20404 ? S 17:13 0:02 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 4928 0.3 0.5 34652 20604 ? S 17:13 0:02 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 4930 0.7 0.7 43156 29144 ? S 17:13 0:04 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 4986 0.4 0.5 34232 19972 ? S 17:14 0:02 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5002 0.3 0.5 34880 20808 ? S 17:14 0:02 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5007 0.5 0.5 34276 20380 ? S 17:14 0:03 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5043 0.5 0.5 34952 20968 ? S 17:16 0:02 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5060 0.4 0.5 34488 20436 ? S 17:16 0:02 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5074 0.4 0.5 34420 20300 ? S 17:16 0:02 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5077 0.3 0.6 39972 25848 ? S 17:16 0:01 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5119 0.4 0.5 34292 20168 ? S 17:18 0:01 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5120 0.3 0.6 39280 25124 ? S 17:18 0:01 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5125 0.5 0.5 34312 20164 ? S 17:18 0:01 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5127 0.2 0.5 34876 20632 ? S 17:18 0:01 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5136 0.3 0.5 33996 19852 ? S 17:18 0:01 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5139 0.3 0.6 39892 25724 ? S 17:19 0:01 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5140 0.2 0.5 33980 19708 ? S 17:19 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5144 0.3 0.5 34816 20800 ? S 17:19 0:01 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5145 0.5 0.5 34592 20352 ? S 17:19 0:01 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5146 0.3 0.5 34468 20216 ? S 17:19 0:01 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5161 0.3 0.5 34128 19976 ? S 17:19 0:01 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5163 0.3 0.5 34184 20028 ? S 17:19 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5164 0.3 0.5 33972 19844 ? S 17:19 0:01 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5190 0.5 0.5 34548 20412 ? S 17:21 0:01 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5192 0.4 0.5 34460 20316 ? S 17:21 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5197 0.7 0.5 34476 20356 ? S 17:21 0:01 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5206 0.2 0.5 33796 19652 ? S 17:21 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5210 0.3 0.5 33976 19820 ? S 17:21 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5217 0.3 0.5 34108 19952 ? S 17:21 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5219 0.3 0.5 34480 20464 ? S 17:21 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5220 0.1 0.5 33824 19780 ? S 17:21 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5225 0.4 0.4 33572 19296 ? S 17:21 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5227 0.3 0.5 33804 19668 ? S 17:21 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5230 0.5 0.6 39496 25420 ? S 17:21 0:01 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5246 0.3 0.5 33996 19844 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5247 0.1 0.4 33580 19340 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5248 0.4 0.5 33828 19656 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5249 0.2 0.5 33732 19676 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5251 0.3 0.5 34064 19904 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5252 0.4 0.5 33784 19748 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5253 0.5 0.5 34188 20012 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5257 0.2 0.5 33700 19428 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5259 0.8 0.7 43164 28848 ? S 17:22 0:01 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5261 0.4 0.5 34052 19864 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5265 0.1 0.4 31816 17672 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5266 0.2 0.4 32800 18604 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5267 0.0 0.3 29488 14596 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5269 0.6 0.5 34252 20108 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5272 0.2 0.5 33876 19836 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5274 0.2 0.4 32436 18252 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5277 0.2 0.5 33836 19612 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5278 0.3 0.4 32992 18836 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5280 0.4 0.5 34284 20120 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5283 0.1 0.4 31764 17456 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5284 0.1 0.4 31728 17328 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5285 0.4 0.5 34220 20176 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5286 0.3 0.5 34248 20092 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5288 0.5 0.5 34108 19952 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5289 0.2 0.4 32952 18784 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5290 0.2 0.5 33856 19652 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5295 0.1 0.4 33572 19328 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5296 0.3 0.5 34232 19936 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5297 0.2 0.5 34032 19820 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5299 0.0 0.3 29488 14596 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5300 0.5 0.5 34640 20484 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5302 0.3 0.5 34180 19756 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5304 0.3 0.5 33672 19508 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5307 0.1 0.4 32940 18664 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5309 0.2 0.4 33160 18936 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5310 0.3 0.5 33796 19784 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5311 0.0 0.3 29488 14596 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5312 0.2 0.4 31164 16876 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5314 0.2 0.5 34064 19772 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5316 0.2 0.0 0 0 ? Z 17:22 0:00 [httpd <defunct>] apache 5317 0.1 0.5 33640 19444 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5321 0.2 0.5 33692 19480 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5322 0.2 0.4 32976 18572 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5323 0.3 0.5 34076 19908 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5324 0.4 0.5 34016 19752 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5325 0.1 0.5 33976 19648 ? S 17:22 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - root 5327 0.0 0.0 9780 2128 ? S 17:23 0:00 sshd: root@pts/0 root 5329 0.0 0.0 5008 1376 pts/0 S 17:23 0:00 -bash apache 5377 0.0 0.3 29356 14584 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5378 0.0 0.3 29488 14592 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5379 0.1 0.3 29488 14592 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5380 1.0 0.5 34196 19944 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5381 0.1 0.3 29488 14604 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5382 0.4 0.4 33008 18692 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5383 0.8 0.5 34200 19888 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5384 0.0 0.3 29488 14596 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5385 0.0 0.3 29488 14604 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5387 0.0 0.3 29488 14592 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5388 0.0 0.3 29488 14588 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5389 0.0 0.3 29488 14592 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5390 0.3 0.4 32532 18336 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5391 0.0 0.3 29488 14592 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5392 0.0 0.3 29488 14600 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5395 1.0 0.5 34052 19880 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5396 0.5 0.4 33600 19352 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5397 0.7 0.5 33632 19396 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5399 0.4 0.4 33004 18688 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5404 0.8 0.4 32640 18340 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5405 0.4 0.4 31268 16944 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5406 0.0 0.3 29488 14600 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - apache 5407 0.0 0.3 29488 14596 ? S 17:24 0:00 /usr/sbin/httpd - root 5425 0.0 0.0 3992 1016 pts/0 R 17:24 0:00 ps xau Code (markup): This is an example top from the other server I was talking about, the one that seems to be spreading the CPU load correctly: top - 17:28:06 up 310 days, 18:14, 1 user, load average: 0.07, 0.06, 0.04 Tasks: 122 total, 1 running, 121 sleeping, 0 stopped, 0 zombie Cpu(s): 3.3%us, 0.5%sy, 0.0%ni, 92.2%id, 1.7%wa, 1.2%hi, 1.2%si, 0.0%st Mem: 950564k total, 938636k used, 11928k free, 6620k buffers Swap: 522072k total, 23592k used, 498480k free, 652832k cached PID USER PR NI VIRT RES SHR S %CPU %MEM TIME+ COMMAND 12845 apache 15 0 126m 74m 3344 S 1.0 8.0 0:01.78 httpd 24592 apache 15 0 130m 79m 4448 S 1.0 8.6 0:28.81 httpd 24599 apache 15 0 129m 79m 4992 S 1.0 8.5 0:21.91 httpd 26584 apache 15 0 131m 80m 5056 S 1.0 8.7 0:26.87 httpd 10920 apache 15 0 126m 74m 3368 S 0.7 8.0 0:05.38 httpd 16558 mysql 15 0 158m 32m 4100 S 0.7 3.5 2486:43 mysqld 24819 apache 15 0 131m 80m 4536 S 0.7 8.7 0:27.54 httpd 26672 apache 15 0 126m 75m 4084 S 0.7 8.1 0:25.37 httpd 26853 apache 15 0 126m 75m 4084 S 0.7 8.1 0:26.74 httpd 13814 root 15 0 2328 1024 796 R 0.3 0.1 0:00.02 top 1 root 15 0 2076 580 500 S 0.0 0.1 0:30.01 init 2 root RT -5 0 0 0 S 0.0 0.0 0:02.07 migration/0 3 root 34 19 0 0 0 S 0.0 0.0 0:00.01 ksoftirqd/0 4 root RT -5 0 0 0 S 0.0 0.0 0:00.00 watchdog/0 5 root RT -5 0 0 0 S 0.0 0.0 0:02.81 migration/1 6 root 34 19 0 0 0 S 0.0 0.0 0:00.01 ksoftirqd/1 7 root RT -5 0 0 0 S 0.0 0.0 0:00.00 watchdog/ Code (markup): Notice that there are many apache processes. Compare this to the first top command from the problem server. We are running PHP in module mode, could it be this that's forcing apache to use the first process as the "cruncher"? Thank you for your help.
Do you run the same (or similar) application in both servers? Or does the "problematic" server run a more database intensive app as opposed to more number-crunching one in the "normal" one? Your output of "ps aux" suggests that the server is accessed a lot (number of httpd processers being way over min spare servers), so the root httpd may be busy mediating children, may be...