Servers aren’t what they used to be. If you’ve spun up a small VPS (Virtual Private Server) recently and felt underwhelmed by its snappiness, you’re not alone. A basic 1-core CPU with 1 GB RAM VPS was reasonably responsive a decade ago, yet today’s entry-level instances sometimes struggle under similar workloads. This article digs into […]
Free vs. Available Memory in Linux
At times, we need to know precisely how a Linux system is using memory. This article explains how to interpret memory usage using the free command and, more importantly, how to correctly understand the difference between free and available memory on Linux systems. Free vs. Available memory explained What exactly is free memory, and how […]
Why Your Linux Server “Looks Idle” but “Feels” Slow
Servers can sometimes appear idle yet still perform sluggishly. This scenario is common across web hosting servers, database servers, VPS or cloud instances, or even containerized workloads. In all mainstream Linux distributions, the core reasons and diagnostics are similar. Below, we explain why an “idle” server might be slow and how to diagnose the real […]
How to Keep ConfigServer Firewall (CSF) Running After the Shutdown
Update: CSF Project Status (January 2026) – Since the original publication of this article, there have been key developments in how ConfigServer Security & Firewall (CSF) is maintained following the shutdown of Way to the Web Ltd on August 31, 2025. The original CSF GitHub repository previously referenced in this article is no longer available and […]
Why server health monitoring is non-negotiable for enterprise success
What if your servers crashed during your biggest sales event of the year? For enterprise IT leaders, that’s not a dramatic opening it’s a recurring risk. A few minutes of downtime can stall transactions, damage customer trust, erode brand reputation, and drain revenue at an alarming rate. With modern applications running across hybrid clouds, distributed […]
What is Linux iowait? (Explained With Examples)
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 […]
Guide to Optimizing PHP for High Traffic Sites
Note: This article serves as an overview and index, connecting you to previous detailed PHP optimization articles. For comprehensive insights on each topic, please follow the provided links to previous articles under the subheadings below. It made more sense to connect these articles here for your convenience, rather than trying to merge 12 articles covering […]
Self-hosted Projects That Earn (Make money from your Home lab)
If you run a home lab long enough, this realization eventually hits you: a lot of your hardware spends more time idle than working. Servers sized for future growth, machines you planned to use for one thing but never quite did, systems that stay powered on 24/7 but barely break a sweat. Thanks to how […]
Rolling Network Racks: The Ultimate Upgrade for Home Networks
This article focuses on the benefits of rolling network racks for established or expanding home networks. If you’re looking for a comprehensive guide to building your first home lab, read my Home Lab Beginners Guide to Hardware article. Managing a modern home network or home lab often involves juggling multiple devices, cables, and upgrades. After […]
50 Top Observability and Monitoring Solutions – 2026
“A more targeted list that includes 50 server and observability solutions for 2026” Back in 2014, I compiled a list of top server and application performance monitoring solutions. Sharing that list publicly was a great way to gain feedback and recommendations on other tools available. Over time that list grew from 20 to over 100 server monitoring […]