Well, I have been manually managing the dedicated server for this site for last 2 years or so but I found a better way to automate the server so it doesn’t ever go down due to overload.

One of the common problems in dedicated servers is the fact that load can go out of control and your web server along with it, causing you to hard-restart the server.

A better way to deal with this over-load problem is to shut down the HTTPD server (web server) before your server load gets to something around 2 to 5.

When the server load drops under 2, the script then can restart the server.

By doing this, you save a lot of headaches especially if you get “digged” or simply need the site up as much as possible.

Believe it or not, there’s no script that does this available free online so I made one for all you webmasters:


#!/bin/bash
loadavg=`uptime | awk ‘{print $9}’`
RESTART=”/sbin/service httpd restart”
# bash doesn’t understand floating point
# so convert the number to an interger
thisloadavg=`echo $loadavg|awk -F \. ‘{print $1}’`
if [ "$thisloadavg" -ge "5" ]; then
echo “Busy - Load Average $loadavg ($thisloadavg) “
httpd -k stop
elif [ "$thisloadavg" -le "2" ]; then
echo “Okay - Load Average $loadavg ($thisloadavg) “
pgrep httpd
if [ $? -ne 0 ] # if apache not running
then
# restart apache
$RESTART
echo “restart!”
else
echo “no restart!”
fi
else
echo “waiting…!”
fi


Save this code somewhere such as /root/checkload.sh.

Then add the following to your cron job.  (/etc/cron.d/sa-update for Fedora Linux)

*/1 * * * * root sh /root/checkloadsh

This will run the script every 1 minute to check the load and if load is too high, web server will be turned off, if it’s lower than 2 and web server is off, it will turn the web server on.

There’s a lot of things that can go wrong with your web server whether from extra traffic or whatnot, but this script will be handy and I do recommend it to anyone who’s having trouble with high-load web servers that go down often. (like this blog)

Now, go install this script, you will never have to worry about your web server dying from high load ever again.

You can also change the value of “2″ in the code to something higher such as 5 or 10, which will wait longer to shut the web server off if load goes high.

I didn’t write the code from scratch, I took 2-3 different scripts and mixed it up so here’s the resources I used for the code:

Load Average Script - This one is the main skeleton I used

Check/Restart HTTPD Script - This one I used to check HTTPD server before trying to restart it.

Cron Task Scheduler - I keep forgetting that the most left number is the minutes, darn.

NOTE - This is a simple solution to keep your dedicated server running on 1 server (like this one), if you can afford more servers, you will need to resort to load balancing the “servers”, load balancing here refers to balancing within 1 server.

In case you don’t know, there’s a program you can download that will let your Google Chrome Browser be updated with the “Dev” mode, which gets you updates as soon as they are available. In the “Beta” normal mode, updates will be delayed until they are considered “stable”.

Subscribing to the Dev channel

1. Download and run the Google Chrome Channel Chooser (http://chromium.googlecode.com/files/chromechannel-1.0.exe).
2. Click the circle next to Dev.
3. Click Update to save your choice.
4. Click Close.
5. In Google Chrome, click the wrench menu and choose About Google Chrome.
Note: On Windows Vista, updates from the About box require Service Pack 1. With 0.2.149.29 (the current release), on demand updates do not work in Vista SP1 if User Account Control is disabled.
6. Click Update Now to install the current Dev channel release.
7. Restart Google Chrome.

via Chrome Hacks

Click Here to View in Full Screen Mode

Here’s a video of the new Mobile GoogleMaps version 2.3.1 with StreetView on my Blackberry 8830.  Above is me spying on Google’s San Francisco headquarter on 345 Spear Street.

Anyways, the new mobile GoogleMaps is pretty darn slow but I ain’t complaining since I am sure they will make it faster in the upcoming versions.

via Blog Network

Click Here to View in Full Screen Mode

Google has just launched its new Mobile GoogleMaps that includes Street View.  Now you can see the street view on your Blackberry or PDA just like the destop version.

Today we’re launching a new version of Google Maps for mobile with the same street-level imagery available on desktop. Wondering if the restaurant in your search results is the one you’re thinking of? Just click “Street View” after your search to see the storefront. Unsure about a complicated intersection in your directions? Use Street View to see a photo, so there’s no mistaking your turn. You can also launch Street View from any address where we have photography, or simply by clicking on the map and selecting “Street View”. You can browse Street View overlaid on the map or in full screen, rotate your view to see more of your surroundings, and move along the street.

Download GoogleMaps Mobile here

via Blog Network, Google Mobile Blog

If you haven’t been following our latest Google Chrome Tips and Hacks, you will need to check out the following two posts:

Recap of Google Chrome Tips and Hacks #1

Recap of Google Chrome Tips and Hacks #2

Here’s the re-cap of Google Chrome Tips and Hacks #3:

Chrome Tips - How to install Greasemonkey scripts in Google Chrome - This is a simple howto for enabling your Greasemonkey scripts from Firefox.

Firefox Hack - Chromi Fox Theme for Firefox - You can install the Chromi theme for Firefox to make your Firefox look like Google Chrome browser.

Google Chrome Wordpress Blog Theme - Someone has created a Google Chrome theme for your Wordpress blog.  Go knock yourself out.

Google Chrome still leads by over 50% on Google Chrome Hacks Tips blog

Google Chrome Comic sold for $372! - Can you believe it?  Someone bought the Chrome Comic book for $372!

Firefox and IE copies Chrome’s “Incognito” mode - Wow, this was a simple but surprising feature recognized by all major browser makers.

Chrome Hack - How to update your Google Chrome browser to the latest version! - Yes, this one is actually a hidden feature on the Google Chrome’s about page.

Chrome Tips - Learn how to add GMail Bookmark to your Chrome! - Yes, this bookmark allows you to jump straight to “Compose Mail” section of GMail on Chrome.

Did you know Google Chrome’s Address Bar is also a Google Search Bar? - Yes, Google did monopolize the search section and I am glad since I don’t use Wikipedia, Amazon, and the other stuff that much on Firefox.

Chrome Hacks - How to run Java and Java applets on your Google Chrome browser - You need to download a beta-version of the JRE (Java Runtime Environment) in order to run Java on Chrome.

Microsoft Office Live doesn’t support Chrome browser at all, go figure.

Check out more from the Google Chrome Tips and Hacks Blog:

• Chrome About Hacks
• Chrome CSS
• Chrome Development
• Chrome Features
• Chrome News
• Chrome Resources
• Chrome Rumors
• Chrome Security Flaws/Bugs
• Chrome Speed Tests
• Chrome Stats
• chrome themes
• chrome tips
• Chrome Videos
• Google Chrome Hacks

Subscribe to this blog or the Chrome Hacks Blog to stay updated on the latest Google Chrome Tips and Hacks news!

Here’s TikiTag, a real-life RFID tag that can be used to tag anything in real life.  Think of it as del.icio.us for physical things.

Read more at Zedomax Blog Network

Google Chrome Tips and Hacks Re-cap #2!

Remember our last post on the re-cap of latest Google Chrome Tips and Hacks from our new Google Chrome TIps and Hacks blog?

Well, here’s a couple more for your hacking pleasures:

List of Google Chrome Forums - Yes, there’s ton of Google Chrome Forums, don’t ask me why.

Google Chrome does DNS-prefetching - Google Chrome is FAST as far as fetching from DNS servers.

Chrome Hack - How to download Youtube videos in Chrome! - Here’s a simply bookmarklet for downloading YouTube videos in Chrome browser in FLV format.

XChrome Version 5 Chrome Theme Switcher - Here’s the latest and best of custom-hacked Chrome Theme Switchers.

More Google Chrome Security Flaws - The Google Chrome by itself is already pretty secure so long as you don’t wonder off into porn XXX sites but here’s a security flaw that might affect those perverted users.

Google Chrome Logo gone crazy - Yes, can we stop talking about the logo now?

Essential Chrome CSS Hacks - Here’s some info on Chrome and CSS.

How to open Chrome from Firefox - Here’s a Firefox plugin to open webpages in Chrome from Firefox.

Google Chrome Anonymizer - Here’s how to get by Google’s Client ID for ultimate anonymity

Google Chrome Proxy - Of course, here’s a great way to surf the web anonymously using a simple proxy.

More FREE Google Chrome Theme Downloads - Yey, more themes the better!

Wow, that was a lot more information than I ever thought was posted at the Google Chrome Tips and Hacks Blog.

Subscribe to this blog or the Chrome Hacks Blog to stay updated on the latest Google Chrome Tips and Hacks news!

UPDATE on Google Chrome Tips Hacks Blog Posts:

Recap of Google Chome Tips Hacks Blog #1

Recap of Google Chrome Tips Hacks Blog #2

Recap of Google Chrome Tips Hacks Blog #3

If you happen to be a Sony VAIO laptops lover, you need to check out their new VAIO Wi-Fi Digital Photo Frame that is also capable of reading RSS Feeds with a resolution of 800×480.

Features: 7″ display with 800×480 resolution projecting over 16 million colors, Wi-Fi enabled (802.11b/g), 128MB hard drive, Memory Stick®, Secure Digital™ and Compact Flash slots, projects RSS feeds from the web and built-in MP3 player

What I like most about this Sony WiFi Digital Photo Frame is that it can read online RSS Feeds so you can setup your own RSS Feeds from your photos and websites.  (For how to add RSS Feeds to your digital photo frame, looky here.)

I really think that the next step in digital picture frame resolution is RSS Feeds that will automate the process of uploading any photos.

With WiFi digital photo frames that can read RSS Feeds (I think most Wi-Fi frames do this now), you no longer need any photo storage space, just a good WiFi connection which most homes have these days.

via crave, Product Page

Remember we made a new blog to cover tips and hacks for the Google Chrome?

Here’s a re-cap of interesting hacks and tips this week:

Resize your textbox - Google Chrome lets you resize any textbox of any website

Video of Story behind Chrome by development team - Listen to what Google Developers have to say on the Chrome browser.

Getting started with Chrome development - If you are thinking about making a new application for the Google Chrome, this is where to start.

Chrome Keyboard Shortcuts - Of course, you need to know keyboard shortcuts to browser fast on the Chrome.

How to run Chrome on Linux or Ubuntu - Here’s a simply DIY on how to run your Chrome browser in Linux/Ubuntu using Wine.

Over 50% of visitors on Chrome-hacks.net consist of Chrome users! - Wow, it’s really funny that Chrome fanatics are the main readers of this new blog.

How to use Chrome on USB Flash Drive - Here’s a simple download for having Chrome on your USB Flash drive for on-the-go.

Chrome might be ported to Android - Well, when Android cellphones hit the streets, there might be mobile Chrome on it.

For more tips, hacks, and news about the Google Chrome, please check out our new blog, Google Chrome Hacks Blog.

via Zedomax Blog Network

UPDATE on Google Chrome Tips Hacks Blog Posts:

Recap of Google Chome Tips Hacks Blog #1

Recap of Google Chrome Tips Hacks Blog #2

Recap of Google Chrome Tips Hacks Blog #3