RAM size of apache process

why could it be different between distros?

[jamie]

hi,

we recently switched our server from redhat 7.2 to debian woody.

each apache process now only uses half the ram it did before (6 MB as opposed to 12 MB) - anyone know why this might be?

thanks :)

[coopster]

Because 12/2=6.

Just kidding. Did your version of Apache change? Maybe look through the Apache Performance Tuning [httpd.apache.org] docs and see if anything jumps out at you.

[jollymcfats]

Likely the two distros are loading a different set of Apache modules. Perhaps 7.2 was pre-configured with mod_perl and mod_php, and Woody is not.

[jamie]

hi coopster and jollymcfats - thanks for the replies, got me investigating an area i would like to know more about.

>> Likely the two distros are loading a different set of Apache modules

this was very interesting - i found out that the old apache had all of the modules built in. the woody apache however loads most of the them in the httpd.conf

the old apache has the following extra mods built in

mod_include
mod_env
mod_asis.c
mod_imap.c
mod_actions.c

i have also commented out mod_userdir and mod_mime_magic from the woody conf - don't need them.

this sounds as though this could be the reason for the smaller memory footprint.

i also had another look at the performance tuning docs (i've never really understood it - i've never found a decent explanation of it online either - perhaps no one truly understands it, lol)

but i couldn't see any real difference between the old and new config.

many thanks for pointing in the right direction! but i feel there's still a lot to learn ;-)

p.s. i'm going to start another thread asking for understanding of those performance tuning docs - and maybe sensible ways to benchmark and test the different settings