Memcached
- Memcached Server Configuration for MediaWiki
This article details configuring and utilizing Memcached to improve the performance of your MediaWiki installation. Memcached is a high-performance, distributed memory object caching system, generic in nature, but intended for use in speeding up dynamic web applications by alleviating database load. For a busy MediaWiki site, Memcached can dramatically reduce response times and improve overall scalability.
What is Memcached?
Memcached operates by storing frequently accessed data in RAM, allowing for quicker retrieval than repeatedly querying the database. It's particularly effective for caching data that's expensive to generate, such as the results of complex database queries used for page rendering. MediaWiki, by default, relies heavily on database queries. Caching frequently accessed parts of pages significantly reduces the load on the database server, leading to faster page loads for users. While PHP is commonly used with Memcached, other languages can also interface with it.
Installation
The installation process varies depending on your operating system. Here's a general overview. These instructions assume you have root or administrator privileges.
Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)
Open a terminal and execute the following commands:
```bash sudo apt update sudo apt install memcached php-memcached ```
Linux (CentOS/RHEL)
Open a terminal and execute the following commands:
```bash sudo yum install memcached php-pecl-memcached ```
Windows
Installation on Windows typically involves downloading a pre-compiled binary of Memcached and a PHP extension (usually a DLL file). Refer to the official Memcached documentation for detailed instructions: [1](http://memcached.org/). You will also need to configure your `php.ini` file to load the `php_memcached.dll` extension.
Configuration
After installation, you need to configure both Memcached itself and MediaWiki to utilize it.
Memcached Configuration
The Memcached configuration file is typically located at `/etc/memcached.conf` (Linux) or in the Memcached installation directory (Windows). Here are some key settings:
Parameter | Description | Default Value |
---|---|---|
`-m` | Maximum amount of memory to use in MB. | 64 |
`-p` | Port to listen on. | 11211 |
`-l` | Interface address to listen on. | 127.0.0.1 |
`-u` | User to run as. | root |
`-t` | Number of threads. | 4 |
Adjust these values based on your server's resources and expected load. Increasing the memory allocation (`-m`) is usually the most effective way to improve performance.
MediaWiki Configuration
Edit your `LocalSettings.php` file. Add the following lines:
```php $wgMemCachedLocalServers = array(
'127.0.0.1:11211' // Replace with your Memcached server address and port
);
$wgCacheDirector = true; ```
`$wgMemCachedLocalServers` defines the Memcached servers that MediaWiki will use. You can specify multiple servers for redundancy and scalability. `$wgCacheDirector = true;` enables the caching director, which manages the caching process.
Advanced Configuration and Monitoring
For larger deployments, consider these advanced configurations:
Multiple Memcached Servers
For increased redundancy and capacity, you can configure MediaWiki to use multiple Memcached servers. Simply add more entries to the `$wgMemCachedLocalServers` array in `LocalSettings.php`.
```php $wgMemCachedLocalServers = array(
'127.0.0.1:11211', '192.168.1.10:11211', '192.168.1.11:11211'
); ```
Statistics and Monitoring
Memcached provides a simple text-based interface for monitoring its performance. You can use the `telnet` command to connect to the Memcached server and retrieve statistics.
```bash telnet 127.0.0.1 11211 ```
Once connected, type `stats` and press Enter to view detailed statistics. Tools like Nagios, Zabbix, or Memcached monitoring web interfaces can provide more comprehensive monitoring.
Caching Levels
MediaWiki uses different caching levels. Memcached primarily impacts the following:
- **Parser Cache:** Caches the output of the parser, reducing the need to re-parse pages frequently.
- **Query Cache:** Caches the results of database queries.
- **Object Cache:** Caches various PHP objects used by MediaWiki.
Troubleshooting
Here are some common issues and their solutions:
Problem | Solution |
---|---|
Memcached not connecting | Verify Memcached is running. Check the server address and port in `LocalSettings.php`. Ensure firewalls aren't blocking the connection. |
Pages not caching | Check the `$wgCacheDirector` setting in `LocalSettings.php`. Verify the PHP Memcached extension is loaded. Clear the MediaWiki cache (using Special:Purge or by manually deleting cache files). |
High memory usage | Increase the memory allocation (`-m`) in the Memcached configuration file. Monitor the cache hit rate to determine if caching is effective. |
Security Considerations
- **Access Control:** By default, Memcached listens on localhost (127.0.0.1). If you need to access it from other servers, ensure you configure appropriate access control measures to prevent unauthorized access. Consider using a firewall.
- **Data Sensitivity:** Memcached stores data in plain text in RAM. Do *not* cache sensitive information, such as passwords, in Memcached.
- **Regular Monitoring:** Monitor Memcached's performance and resource usage to identify potential issues and ensure it's operating efficiently.
See Also
- Manual:Configuration settings - Official MediaWiki documentation on configuration settings.
- Manual:Caching - Overview of MediaWiki's caching mechanisms.
- Special:Version - Check your MediaWiki version.
- PHP - The scripting language often used with Memcached.
- Server Hardware - General information on server hardware.
- Database - Understanding the database connection.
- Performance optimization - Improving MediaWiki's performance.
- Extensions - Expanding MediaWiki's functionality.
- Configuration - General MediaWiki configuration information.
- Maintenance - Keeping your MediaWiki site running smoothly.
- Security - Protecting your MediaWiki installation.
- Scaling - Handling increased traffic and data.
- Debugging - Finding and fixing issues.
- Help:Contents - General help resources for MediaWiki.
- Manual:FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions about MediaWiki.
Intel-Based Server Configurations
Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
---|---|---|
Core i7-6700K/7700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 512 GB | CPU Benchmark: 8046 |
Core i7-8700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2x1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 13124 |
Core i9-9900K Server | 128 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 49969 |
Core i9-13900 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
Core i9-13900 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
Core i5-13500 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
Core i5-13500 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
Core i5-13500 Workstation | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2 NVMe SSD, NVIDIA RTX 4000 |
AMD-Based Server Configurations
Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
---|---|---|
Ryzen 5 3600 Server | 64 GB RAM, 2x480 GB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 17849 |
Ryzen 7 7700 Server | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2x1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 35224 |
Ryzen 9 5950X Server | 128 GB RAM, 2x4 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 46045 |
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EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/1TB) | 128 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
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EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/1TB) | 256 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/4TB) | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
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