[olug] Apache MaxClients and monitoring connections.

[Obi-Wan]

>> I'm working on sizing an Apache installation using the MaxClients parameter
>> to limit connections before it impact other shared services on this system.
>>  The Apache system will log when the MaxClients is hit, but I can't
>> determine how to get Apache to tell me how many clients it's currently
>> running.  (I'm hoping to log these numbers during their work-day and help
>> them determine a good size that balances responsiveness with the other tasks
>> on the system.)
>> 
>> Is there a debug or logging option I'm missing?
> 
> # ps aux | grep apache

Or more specifically (using specifics for my install),

# ps aux | grep /usr/sbin/apache2 | grep -c www-data
15

However, it's my impression that Apache doesn't ever actually terminate
an idle instance.  It starts them when necessary to field incoming
requests (subject to MaxClients), but when said request has been handled,
it leaves the instance running to save overhead the next time a request
comes in.  I'm not aware of any way to tell how many instances are
concurrently busy.  I haven't looked in a long time, but there may be
a way to tell idle instances to die after some period of inactivity.

-- 
Ben "Obi-Wan" Hollingsworth                             obiwan at jedi.com
   The stuff of earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the
     Giver of all good things, so if I stand, let me stand on the
       promise that You will pull me through.  -- Rich Mullins