Apache2 MPM’s

A couple of hours ago I wrote a post about migrating web services to a Debian VM running Squeeze, from one which had been running Lenny.  I said I’d switched to the prefork MPM under Apache2.

Well, if you’re reading this on my site, you’re reading it via the worker MPM once again – only a couple of hours later.  It became obvious pretty quickly once the site had real web pages, and real users, that prefork was not going to cut it.  The VM’s are small, only 256MB of memory and so I can’t run many Apache2 processes.  Although I tested a lot of accesses against PHP based pages using Apache’s AB, I missed doing some testing of both PHP content and the large amount of static content that goes with it (such as style sheets, javascript, images, etc.) at the same time.

Under those conditions, the server needed either so many Apache processes that it filled memory, or it reached the limits I had set and page loads took 20+ seconds.

So, I quickly switched back to the worker MPM and PHP running under Fast CGI, and the page loads are back down to 2 seconds or so on average.

I still have some work to do, to make sure I don’t start too many PHP5 CGI processes, but at least the sites are useable again.

Avatar – initial thoughts

So, just got back from Avatar (Digital 3D).  Totally engaging movie experience.  The time flew by.  I’ll write a longer review (maybe) later, but for now, here are my initial thoughts.

  • 3D worked well in some places (looking through windows, heads-up displays, floating embers), didn’t really get in the way, not sure how much it added to the experience having not see the non-3D version.  It does give you a headache afterwards, because (I’m guessing) your brain gets pissed off with seeing in 3D but not being able to choose what to focus on.
  • The CGI – breathtaking.  Really, just astonishing.  It’s a step and a half up from anything I’ve ever seen, anywhere.  There’s plenty of stuff on screen that I truly have no clue if it was CGI, model work or real.
  • The story – go with an open heart and let it affect you, and you’ll love it.  Go and don’t open up to it and it’ll look cheesy.  I hope you can empathise and get involved because it’s truly, honestly, moving.
  • Some people will call it Dances with Wolves meets Dragon Riders of Pern meets Aliens meets World of Warcraft.  Maybe they’re right, frankly, I don’t care.  It rocked.
  • The trailer, no matter which one you have seen, does not do the movie justice.

Will Avatar change Cinema? No, I don’t think so.  Is it groundbreaking?  Yes, in parts.  Is it a fantastic fantasy/sci-fi movie with a heart?  Yes, totally.

Every so often a movie comes along that not only begs to be seen on the big screen, but requires it.  Avatar is one of those movies.  If you do not see this on the big screen, if you do not let it fill your vision, your heart and touch your soul, you’ll not be seeing the same film as those people who do.

Go and see it, please.

Avatar – the trailer

So, it’s out, Avatar’s trailer, the best place to see it is on the Apple site in HD, here.  Does it look impressive? Yes.  Do the CGI characters move well and have emotion in their eyes? Yes.

Do they still look like CGI? Yes.

Does it look a bit like WoW the movie? Yes.