Slow Since Installation

[Faol]

I loaded the vB Gallery yesterday and had a few problems. One was the database connections were not right, so it would crash, or seem to, for many people. Folks have had no problem uploading, and there has been no issue with linking to their images, or any functionality really.

However, the site is now running SO SLOOOOOW. I turned off the Gallery and it is still running slow. I really do not want to uninstall this feature, but are there any types of optimization that can be done? I am on the only one of this server, sitting on the backbone, so the system should not be an issue. I am also only using 1% or less of swap files and such, and about 22% of total storage available.

I created another db instance but am not sure if I can move the pictures already installed, or would they just be abandoned, need to be deleted, etc. Would a new db even make a difference?

[Luciano]

Question...
What version of vbgallery and vbulletin are you running?

[Faol]

Originally Posted by Luciano

Question...
What version of vbgallery and vbulletin are you running?

vBulletin 3.7.3 Patch 1
vB Gallery 2.5

Webserver: Apache 2.2.8
MySQL: 5.0.51a-3ubuntu5.1
PHP: 5.2.4-2ubuntu5.3

MySQL max_connections = 500

I am losing people from my forum, so if I cannot get this fixed post haste, it is coming off. I hope that the PP Classifieds program is not like this too.

[Faol]

My logged in users have been up to 329 prior to this product being installed, with NO issues. Now, with only 100 users, I personally have 20-30 second response times.

I also had 2 other items with database usage, but these were uninstalled so as not to cause a problem, and because PP Classifieds would be replacing them anyway.

I have folks getting 1 min timeouts connecting to the forum.

[Luciano]

Well i can see at first sight 2 series of potential problems that could slow down server.

1. vbgallery issues.

Vbgallery 2.5 has some problems with big boards. (when I say big, I do not meen the amount of users, but the amount of pictures & users)

These issues have been removed in vbgallery 3.0 but cannot be in 2.5 as it would require rewriting lots of code.

These issues would slow down gallery pages and take server load to increadible peeks.

These issues were:
A. filmstrip in showimage. Turn off filmstrip (set to 0)
Filmstrip makes an array of ALL images in category .. if you have like 50.000 images per category.. you will get timeouts.

B. Category Jump. Switch off category jump in ACP. (its ok if you have like 10 categories, but some boards have like 300 categories and the catjump is generated every pageload.

Second series of problems..

I have no experience with ubuntu, but when you say you are running PHP: 5.2.4-2ubuntu5.3 is that php 5.2.4 or a compatible version of 5.3?

Just wondering, because on php 5.3 you are bound to have a series of issues with vbulletin 3.7.3 and vbgallery 2.5
why? because php would issue a great series of deprecated warnings for both, vb 3.7 and vbgallery, even if you suppress those warnings in php.ini, that would still noticably slow down your system. But with 5.24 you should NOT have those problems.

Luc
PS try at first to turn of category jump and filmstrip.

[Faol]

The PHP is version 5.2.4. It was installed in July 2008.

The other modifications were made and it is a little bit faster, but it is still timing out for some folks.

How can I move this to another database instance? Is there a .php file that directs it to a particular database? I'm not sure if it would help, but it would isolate it, and I have seen it mentioned that folks do that, but not how.

[Luciano]

Not sure, gallery uses the main vbulletin database. Some that do not need immediate display, use slave server but that is vbulletin stuff. But there are some optimization threads at vbulletin.com that explain how to optimize the settings of mysql and apache.

do some reading...
for slave server
SlaveServer directive not working

and i remember seeing the threads on how to optimize mysql and apache, but just checked and cant find them anymore.

[Faol]

I removed the vBGallery and things are back to normal. I have almost 5000 users, but limit gallery uploads to subscribers, although all can see. Would I be better off installing PhotoPost PHP Pro, instead of vBGallery for a long-term solution?

[Luciano]

It is difficult to find memory hogs ... and server load problems, as hardly anyone can reproduce the problems (I have php 5.31 and have problems installing your configuration)

I do not know the server load done by pppro, especially if you are running vb 3.7

As a matter of fact, I personally do not know if running vb 3.7 is a good long-term solution. (but that is another problem)

I am seeing a big gallery with 15,000 users and over 600,000 images.
The owner changed from pp7 to vbgallery 3.0 and did not run into any problems.

but I think that as long as you are running vb 3.7 there will always be optimization problems.

If I were you, I would try pp7 and see if there is a difference. (there is bound to be one as pp7 installs more or less outside of vbulletin)

L.