As advancements in machine learning continue to accelerate and evolve, more individuals and small organizations are exploring how to run language models (LLMs) like DeepSeek, LLaMA, Qwen and others on their home servers. This article recommends a Linux server build that’s LLM-optimized for under $2,000 – a setup that rivals or beats pre-built solutions like Apple’s […]
Running Out of RAM on Linux? Add Zram Before Upgrading!
Over the past few weeks, the RAM (or system memory) usage on my workstation has increased due to a heavier workload across multiple workspaces. Largely due to an increased number of open web browser tabs as well as other applications spread across 8 other workspaces. With 16 GB of RAM on my system, lately I’ve […]
Linux Server Setup – Part 1: A Beginner’s Guide
If you are new to Linux, setting up a Linux server is a great way to learn more about Linux and server management. Whether you want to host services, run apps or build a homelab, a Linux server offers unmatched flexibility, performance, and control. This beginner’s guide will walk you through the basics of setting […]
What is iowait and how does it affect Linux performance?
iowait (wait, wa, %iowait, wait%, or I/O wait) is often displayed by command-line Linux system monitoring tools such as top, sar, atop, and others. On its own, it’s one of many performance stats that provide us insight into Linux system performance. I/O wait came up in a recent discussion with a new client. During our support […]
Linux server needs a RAM upgrade? Check with top, free, vmstat, sar
Sometimes, it can be a bit of a challenge knowing if and when you should upgrade the RAM (random access memory) on your Linux server. Even more so, when deciding how much memory you should add, or if you have adequate memory, how do you make the best use of it? This article will walk […]
Are you measuring Linux web server memory usage correctly?
This article was first published in 2014. After which, there was a welcomed change to the Linux kernel in 2016, as mentioned in the 2017 article: Does your Linux server need a RAM upgrade? Let’s check with free, top, vmstat and sar. As a server administrator or web developer, it’s your responsibility to stay informed about […]
How to strip down Amazon Linux EC2 to maximize available RAM
Keeping memory usage low is especially important on these smaller machines to ensure optimal performance and stability. This guide is for low-memory Amazon Linux EC2 instance types like t4g.nano and t4g.micro. The recommendations are most relevant to Amazon Linux 2, Amazon Linux 2023, RHEL 9, and other derivatives including Fedora and Alma Linux. This article […]
PHP memory_limit – understanding and increasing
PHP’s memory_limit is per-script, just as a highway’s speed limit is per-vehicle. For example, although PHP’s memory limit may be set to 1GB, that does not mean that scripts will pile up to use that 1 GB. Let’s take a closer look at understanding PHP’s memory_limit setting. PHP memory_limit is a per-script setting PHP.net’s documentation […]
Free vs. Available Memory in Linux
At times, we will need to know precisely how our Linux systems use memory. This article will examine how to use the free command-line utility to view memory usage on a Linux system. In doing so, we will clearly define the difference between free vs. available memory on Linux systems. Free vs. Available memory explained […]
Tuning MySQL my.cnf? Avoid this common pitfall!
It took me some time to decide on the title of this article. MariaDB has been fast replacing MySQL as many Linux distributions now default to MariaDB over MySQL. MariaDB is an enhanced drop-in replacement for MySQL. Therein lies my predominantly self-made conundrum, MySQL or MariaDB? The MySQL tuning advice below applies to MySQL, MariaDB […]