Server requirements for forum hosting

[tankman1989]

I've always been curious as to the server requirements to run a forum (such as this). Not only do I need to know about hardware requirements but also network bandwidth for the uplink to the net. I would say that the largest variables in determining the needs would be the number of users (IDK if it matters if member vs guest), the number of posts and the number of searches performed on the server at the same time.

Is there any guideline as to how many cores and CPU speed is needed to run X number of users or something that states when high RPM HD's should be upgraded to SSD's?

Just to give a theoretical starting point I was thinking of a userbase of about 15-18,000 members with an average of about 2-3,000 members being active/using on a consistent basis (all members will be using it but only about 20% will be using at any given moment - on average). Now what happens if for some reason the usage is upped to 60-80% for a short time (like a few days to a week) - how can the system be planned to manage that? Is it possible to handle the load but with slower results?

Finally, if you are supporting many forums (let's just say 20). What would be the best way to load balance across one or more servers to ensure that when a specific forum gets a usage spike the system is able to handle it - even if it means sacrificing a little performance to the other 19 forums?

 

[Boston Pro Comp Serv LLC]

Have it hosted than you don't have to worry about anything but the check each month.

 

[SAG]

Have it hosted than you don't have to worry about anything but the check each month.

Well that's not very "techie" of you.

 

[krtechsolutions]

Its the kiss method

Its smart, techie is smart

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

A lot of other factors come into play...what base OS, what forum engine.

Our server at www.speedguide.net, dual quad core Xeons, 12 gigs of RAM, WD RE HDDs (you don't need 15k drives on a web server), Fedore Core, Apache, PHP 'n MySQL, VBulletin engine. Website 'n forum can get around 10,000 viewers daily. Due to a lot of the TCP/IP tests and tools avail for download, she wails on the bandwidth pretty good, getting over 10 megs. The server itself doesn't work too hard. Even back in the hay-day of our forums..when it was always packed, never got "server busy" errors for users. Forums have died down mostly..but the website itself is still popular.

 

[NYJimbo]

Have it hosted than you don't have to worry about anything but the check each month.

+1 This is the way to do it. I host tons of forums and every one of those customers thought they needed their own server. Get a good small, well seasoned host that understands the business and can explain the growth path for you and start that way.

 

[tankman1989]

Thanks for the replies. I plan on running a Debian based OS or possibly a BSD flavor with apache, MySQL & phpBB3 or vBulletin. The reason I asked about servers is that I have 12 very capable servers ready to be used I just now need to know what they can handle and how best to expand if/when needed.

The servers are
(7) Poweredge 2950's dual quad core 2.66Ghz - 16GB ram (exp to 32) - 6 3.5" bays
(5) Poweredge 1950's dual dual core 3.0Ghz - 16GB ram (exp to 32) - 2 3.5" bays.

I'd like to either cluster the like servers or all of them if possible - I haven't researched this aspect closely enough.

I will probably go with a hosting service at first until I have enough business to move to self hosted.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Either of those old servers will be fine. It's the bandwidth that really counts, where you choose to colo. Especially if you want a global audience.

 

[Bryce W]

I run two large forums. This one and another one with 102,000+ members and 3.2 million posts. Basically, you will want dedicated or clouded servers for forums of this size. Dont underestimate the load they cause. The servers you mention should be fine but you will definitely want them co-located. I dont think you'll have the bandwidth on a home connection to handle it.

 

[tankman1989]

Thanks

I would definitely have a hosting location for the site. I do get close to 400KBps sustained upload though. How much traffic could that handle member wise (I assume that bandwidth is always related to member usage and not board size/quantity of threads.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I do get close to 400KBps sustained upload though. How much traffic could that handle member wise (I assume that bandwidth is always related to member usage and not board size/quantity of threads.

Could handle a tiny private forum. if you want lots of members on at the same time though.....ain't gonna cut it.

Think about websites and servers...remember what I typed above...the "location" of the where you host it is important. You want a colo that sits on major backbones. This allows the least amount of hops possible for your audience...which leads to far better performance for them. Even if you had a Docsis 3 package with 20 megs upload...it will be residential or a smaller ISPs business grade...which will perform far worse than a colo on major backbone bandwidth. If you don't know what major backbones are...and how colo data centers at the major hubs of our country are setup....picture all the roads and streets and highways going across out country. You want your servers sitting on the major intersections of our biggest highways. People coming from all around the country can get to them faster than if they had to get off the exit ramp and drive down another 15 smaller roads and streets to get to the destination.