Can zip files cause a lot of server load?

Discussion in 'Site & Server Administration' started by 1-3-3-7, May 6, 2008.

  1. #1
    I was contacted by one of my hosts that a certain zip file I had which I offered as a download, was causing the server to slow down so they advised me to remove it.

    From my logs, it seems that users were just directly accessing it. So it seems that it was just the zip file causing the conflict and not any php etc.

    Is there any way to prevent this?

    And also, is there a way to forward let's say site.net/file.zip to another URL (a download mirror)?

    Nevermind about that part, as I found a solution to that via htaccess:
    Redirect 301 /file.zip http://www*mirror.com/file.zip

    Any help would be appreciated, thanks.
     
    1-3-3-7, May 6, 2008 IP
  2. gate2vn

    gate2vn Peon

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    #2
    If many people download it, the web server needs to serve more, and it can lead to high server load. Especially with slow disk drives.
     
    gate2vn, May 6, 2008 IP
  3. 1-3-3-7

    1-3-3-7 Well-Known Member

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    #3
    I see.

    If I redirect the old zip file via .htaccess to a mirror file hosted elsewhere it should solve the problem right? Or would this redirection cause conflicts too?

    Thanks for the info btw.
     
    1-3-3-7, May 6, 2008 IP
  4. jumpinjack

    jumpinjack Active Member

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    #4
    Redirecting with htaccess will definately solve the problem. As your visitors will no longer be downloading that zip file, correct? :)
     
    jumpinjack, May 6, 2008 IP
  5. 1-3-3-7

    1-3-3-7 Well-Known Member

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    #5
    Yeah, but I was wondering if the request for the redirection would cause problems due to the hits it would now be receiving from the request to download the file.

    I guess not though as so far it seems to be running good.
     
    1-3-3-7, May 7, 2008 IP