Tag Archives: RAM

How to Stop High Server Load from Distributed Botnets, Scrapers, and Database Queue Locks

When a server load spikes to 30, 50, or 100+, most sysadmins panic and start haphazardly restarting services or blocking random IP addresses. However, modern attacks are rarely as simple as a single bad IP.

Today’s botnets use distributed Layer 7 (HTTP) floods, rotating through hundreds of unique IPs with only 1 connection each, exploiting web server application queues, fake WordPress scanners, background AJAX polling scripts, and WordPress admin-ajax.php endpoints that lock up MySQL.

This comprehensive guide covers how to diagnose,

Posted in Coding, Server Admin & Security | Tagged .htaccess, 127.0.0.1, 403 Forbidden errors, 404 errors, ajax, ajax polling, ajax requests, apache, apache rate limiting, automated system tasks, bingbot, botnets, cache, caching, cpu, cpu load, cron jobs, csf, csf whitelist, CT_BLOCK_TIME, CT_LIMIT, CT_PORTS, database polling, database queue locks, ddos attacks, distributed attack, Googlebot, high server load, http, ip address, Jeypack, layer 7, linux, load averages, mibew messenger, mod_evasive, mysql, operator refresh time, php, processes, RAM, scrapers, script, server attack, server load, server load spike, subnet attack, sysadmin commands, whitelist, whm, xmlrpc.php | Leave a comment

The Ultimate Guide to MySQL Query Optimization

PHPMyAdmin MySQL Explain Analyze command for optimizing slow queries

At its core, query optimization comes down to one goal: Make the database read as few rows as possible.

If MySQL reads 300,000 rows to return 5 results, it is slow. If it reads 5 rows to return 5 results, it is lightning fast.

In The Developer’s Guide to Identifying Slow MySQL Queries, we covered the mechanics of finding your slowest queries using server logs and gave a brief introduction to the EXPLAIN command.

But once you’ve identified a slow query,

Posted in Coding, Server Admin & Security | Tagged boolean mode, composite indexes, covering index, deferred join, ESR, explain, explain analyze, fulltext, indexes, like vs fulltext, match against, mysql, mysql database, mysql query optimization, natural language mode, order by, RAM, slow mysql queries, where | Leave a comment

The Hidden Cost of WordPress Security: Why Security Plugins Aren’t the Whole Answer

WordPress vs UltimateWB - fragmented, high maintenance vs integrated, low maintenance, high performance platform

If you run a website, you know that security isn’t optional. For millions of WordPress users, the immediate reaction to securing a site is to install a security plugin. It’s practically a rite of passage.

But there is a conversation that many developers and web hosts avoid having until it's too late: the real cost of application-level security.

We aren't just talking about subscription fees. We're talking about the hidden performance tax, the administrative burden of constant updates, and the

Posted in Compare Website Builders, Website Security | Tagged abandoned plugins, backdoor, backups, compatibility issues, cpu, CPU spikes, database, firewall, firewall rules, javascript, maintenance, malcar, malicious code, malware, performance tax, plugin, plugin compatibility issues, plugin vulnerabilities, RAM, security plugin, security stack, solid security, subscription fees, waf, web application firewall, website security, wordfence, WordPress, WordPress plugin vulnerabilities, wordpress security | Leave a comment

What “Unlimited” Really Means in Web Hosting

Updated 2026: This article has been expanded to better explain how “unlimited” web hosting plans work and how resource limits are actually enforced.

When shopping for web hosting, you will often see plans advertised with “unlimited bandwidth,” “unlimited storage,” or “unlimited hosting.” At first glance, this sounds like an incredible offer: unlimited resources for a small monthly fee.

However, in reality, “unlimited” hosting is not literal. Every server and network connection has physical limits.

As Humpty Dumpty says in Through

Posted in Web Hosting | Tagged cpu, CPU throttling, CPU usage, database, fair-use policies, hidden limits, inode, inode limits, inode limits comparison, marketing, RAM, renewal price increase, resource limits, server resources, shared hosting servers, technical limits, unlimited, unlimited bandwidth, unlimited data transfer, unlimited disk space, unlimited hosting, unlimited storage, unmetered, web hosting | 1 Comment

Tag Archives: RAM

How to Stop High Server Load from Distributed Botnets, Scrapers, and Database Queue Locks

The Ultimate Guide to MySQL Query Optimization

The Hidden Cost of WordPress Security: Why Security Plugins Aren’t the Whole Answer

What “Unlimited” Really Means in Web Hosting

Recent Posts

Categories