Apache Optimization

Kevin,

I don't know why Apache chose ThreadsPerChild for a directive name, or what they
might mean by a child process, but ThreadsPerChild determines the number of
threads that Apache uses for client communication, using sockets. You must have
already noticed that ThreadsPerChild causes multiple threads to be started in
one of the Apache jobs. That thread count is 7 + the ThreadsPerChild
setting. Unfortunately, ThreadsPerChild also controls the maximum number of CGI
jobs that may be started over time. Frankly, I wish there were separate
directives for each. CGI tuning under Apache is something of an oxymoron.
You're not the only one baffled by it. Actually, I think you understand the
problem better than most people because you went to the trouble of developing
your own dispatcher architecture. Right?

I'm a little constrained to say a much about why one of our clients is using a
ThreadsPerChild setting of 3000. I apologize if it added to the confusion. CGI
is actually just a small percentage of their overall workload.

-Nathan




-- from Kevin Turner --

I, for one, and a bit baffled by Apache configuration for optimum performance.
Most of the configuration is pretty self explanatory,like setting up SSL,
deflation, configuring for CGI etc etc, but this threadsPerChild setting seems
less obvious. The documentation talks about threads per child process. What is
a child process? How does a child process differ froma CGI thread? Is there a
formula for working out the best settings? You (Nathan) mention a
threadsPerChild of 3000, which is a massive difference from 100 running on a
very big box. There must be some detriment to setting it too high also?

Any Apache gurus out there?