From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Jul 28 14:46:45 2003 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 4A88137B401 for ; Mon, 28 Jul 2003 14:46:45 -0700 (PDT) Received: from thor.65535.net (thor.65535.net [216.17.104.19]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id E54E143F93 for ; Mon, 28 Jul 2003 14:46:43 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from rghf@fsck.me.uk) Received: from localhost.jdshostimg.com ([127.0.0.1] helo=localhost) by thor.65535.net with esmtp (Exim 4.20) id 19hFoW-000OpK-BD; Mon, 28 Jul 2003 14:45:52 -0700 Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2003 14:45:51 -0700 (PDT) From: Rus Foster X-X-Sender: rghf@thor.65535.net To: Jamie In-Reply-To: <20030728163035.H71147-100000@floyd.gnulife.org> Message-ID: <20030728144506.G68935@thor.65535.net> References: <20030728163035.H71147-100000@floyd.gnulife.org> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Server spinning out of control... X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2003 21:46:45 -0000 > We've got a server that occassionally becomes temporarily useless > because the load average shoots up to around 150.0 or so, and then slowly > winds down over a 2 minute period. I cannot seem to find the process which > is putting so much load on the machine. I've tried running top with the q > switch, as well as the "I" switch, and when top opens, I can't see > anything consuming large amounts of CPU power or consuming much memory, > but the load average will be incredibly high. There isn't anything unusual > in /var/log/messages to indicate anything which might be causing the load > average to go shooting through the ceiling. Are you running any sort of spam filtering? Could a use put something in their ~/.forward? Rus www: http://jvds.com | Virtual Servers from just $15/mo MSNM: support@jvds.com | Totally Customizable Technology e: rghf@jvds.com | forums: http://forums.jvds.com 10% donation to FreeBSD.org on each purchase