Optimizing Server Performance for Automation Tasks
Optimizing Server Performance for Automation Tasks
This article details server configuration optimizations specifically geared towards improving performance when running automated tasks within a MediaWiki 1.40 environment. These tasks can include Maintenance scripts, API-based workflows, and Cron jobs. Poor server configuration can lead to slow execution times, timeouts, and instability. This guide aims to provide practical steps to mitigate these issues.
Understanding the Bottlenecks
Before diving into specific configurations, it’s important to understand common bottlenecks. These typically fall into one of three categories:
- CPU: Processing power required for script execution.
- Memory: Needed to load data, execute code, and maintain server state.
- Disk I/O: Reading and writing data to disk, especially database operations.
Identifying the primary bottleneck requires monitoring server resources during task execution. Tools like `top`, `htop`, `iostat`, and database-specific monitoring tools (like `mysqladmin processlist` for MySQL) are invaluable. Monitoring the Server log is also critical.
Database Configuration
The database is often the biggest performance bottleneck in a MediaWiki installation. Optimizing its configuration is paramount.
MySQL/MariaDB
The following table provides suggested configurations for a dedicated MediaWiki database server. Adjust values based on available resources and workload.
| Parameter | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `innodb_buffer_pool_size` | 50-80% of RAM | Cache for InnoDB data and indexes. Crucial for performance. |
| `query_cache_size` | 64M - 256M (Monitor usage) | Caches query results. Can be beneficial but also introduce overhead. Disable if write-heavy workload. |
| `max_connections` | 150-300 (Adjust based on concurrent users and tasks) | Maximum number of simultaneous database connections. |
| `innodb_log_file_size` | 256M - 1G | Size of InnoDB transaction log files. Larger values improve write performance. |
| `innodb_flush_log_at_trx_commit` | 2 | Controls how frequently InnoDB flushes transaction logs to disk. `2` offers a good balance between performance and data safety. |
Remember to restart the database server after making configuration changes. Regularly run `OPTIMIZE TABLE` on your MediaWiki tables to defragment indexes. See Database maintenance for more details.
Web Server Configuration (Apache/Nginx)
The web server handles incoming requests and serves content. Proper configuration is essential for handling the load from automated tasks.
Apache
| Parameter | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `KeepAlive` | On | Enables persistent HTTP connections, reducing overhead. |
| `KeepAliveTimeout` | 5-10 seconds | Time to keep a persistent connection open. |
| `MaxKeepAliveRequests` | 100-200 | Maximum number of requests allowed on a persistent connection. |
| `StartServers` | 5-10 | Number of server processes started on server startup. |
| `MaxRequestWorkers` | 150-300 (Adjust based on RAM and CPU) | Maximum number of concurrent requests Apache can handle. |
Nginx
Nginx is generally more efficient than Apache for static content and reverse proxying.
| Parameter | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `worker_processes` | Number of CPU cores | Number of worker processes to handle requests. |
| `worker_connections` | 1024-4096 | Maximum number of connections per worker process. |
| `keepalive_timeout` | 60 seconds | Time to keep a persistent connection open. |
| `client_max_body_size` | Adjust based on API upload limits | Maximum size of a client request body. |
PHP Configuration
PHP is the scripting language that powers MediaWiki. Optimizing its configuration is critical.
| Parameter | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `memory_limit` | 256M - 512M (Increase if tasks require more memory) | Maximum amount of memory a PHP script can consume. |
| `max_execution_time` | 60-300 seconds (Adjust based on task complexity) | Maximum time a PHP script can run. |
| `opcache.enable` | 1 | Enables the OPcache, which caches precompiled PHP code. Essential for performance. |
| `opcache.memory_consumption` | 128M - 256M | Amount of memory allocated to the OPcache. |
Ensure you are using a recent version of PHP (7.4 or higher) for improved performance and security. Consider using a PHP process manager like PHP-FPM for better resource management. See PHP configuration for detailed instructions.
Caching
Leveraging caching mechanisms can significantly reduce server load.
- Output caching: Caches generated HTML pages.
- Object caching: Caches database query results and other frequently accessed data. Memcached or Redis are popular choices.
- Parser caching: Caches parsed wikitext.
Monitoring and Tuning
After implementing these optimizations, it’s essential to monitor server performance and tune configurations as needed. Use tools like Performance profiling to identify specific bottlenecks. Regularly review server logs and database performance metrics. Adjust configurations iteratively based on observed results.
Special:MyPreferences can help with user experience, but does not affect server performance. MediaWiki extensions can add functionality, but can also impact performance - carefully evaluate extensions before installation. MediaWiki API is a common source of automated tasks and should be monitored.
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 |
| Ryzen 9 7950X Server | 128 GB DDR5 ECC, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 63561 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/1TB) | 128 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/2TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/4TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| 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 |
| EPYC 9454P Server | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe |
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⚠️ *Note: All benchmark scores are approximate and may vary based on configuration. Server availability subject to stock.* ⚠️