Recommended Server for 1Million Post Board?

[fasteddie]

We are wanting to upgrade from my current P4 2.8ghz server with 1GB RAM. The primary use of this server is a single vBulletin forum with around 1 million posts and 16,000 or so members. We get at about 1500 posts a day or so. Peak usage is around 120 members online and 120-150 guests, usually tops out at 250 or so total...

Right now we are running apache 2.0.58, php 5.1.6, mysql 5.0.26.

Do you know what Linux distribution / mySQL config would be best for that? And what kind of server power (Xeon, single CPU, etc.) do I need?

Thanks.

[Bob Isaac]

We have 2 x Xeon 3.06 CPUs and 2Gb RAM running Redhat ES4 Update 4. We also run our main web site on the same box. Our PHP (4.3.9) and MySQL (4.1.20) are older than yours and Apache is 2.0.52.

We have 18,000 members 215,000 posts and run from 200 - 700 users online at one time.

Our main issue is MySQL use is very heavy. I have tweaked MySQL a few times, allocating 96Mb to query_cache_size and also running APC with 96Mb memory.

It's not too bad, but it is difficult to tell if the occasional slower responses are down to general network issues or the server.

I think the general opinion for big busy boards is to use a 2 server setup.

Bob

[dbembibre]

I have a Dual Dual Xeon 2.8 with 2x80 SCSCI discs and 4GB of ECC memory.
I catch 600-1100 users without problems.
My forum has Threads: 156,947, Posts: 2,469,318, Users: 32,048

Apache 2.0.54 + PHP 5.2.1 + xCache twice compiled by hand and with many tweaks.
MySQL 4.1.22 precompiled binaries from MySQL.com

[fasteddie]

Thanks much for the advice! Definitely will go for dual CPU option now! Appreciate it! You both have mighty fine forums, congrats!

[dbembibre]

Do not hesitate in contact me if you have any question