System performance

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  1. System Performance

Introduction

System performance in the context of a MediaWiki installation refers to how quickly and efficiently the wiki responds to user requests. A well-performing wiki provides a smooth and responsive experience for editors and readers alike, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing. Conversely, a slow or unstable wiki can be frustrating to use, leading to decreased engagement and potential data loss. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of system performance considerations for MediaWiki 1.40, covering common bottlenecks, monitoring techniques, and optimization strategies for beginners. We will delve into various aspects, from server hardware to software configuration and database optimization, offering practical advice to improve your wiki’s performance.

Understanding the Components

Before diving into optimization, it's crucial to understand the core components involved in delivering a MediaWiki page to a user. The process typically involves:

1. **User Request:** A user enters a page title in their browser or clicks a link. 2. **Web Server:** The web server (typically Apache or Nginx) receives the request. 3. **PHP Processing:** The web server passes the request to PHP, which executes the MediaWiki code. 4. **Database Interaction:** PHP queries the database (usually MySQL/MariaDB, PostgreSQL, or SQLite) to retrieve the page content. 5. **Caching:** Various caching mechanisms are employed to store frequently accessed data, reducing the need for repeated database queries. 6. **Rendering:** PHP assembles the page content, including templates and extensions. 7. **Delivery:** The web server sends the rendered HTML to the user’s browser.

Performance issues can arise in *any* of these stages. Identifying the bottleneck is the first step towards optimization. Tools like Special:Statistics can give a basic overview, but more detailed monitoring is often required.


Common Performance Bottlenecks

Several factors can contribute to poor system performance. Here's a breakdown of the most common ones:

  • **Server Hardware:** Insufficient CPU, RAM, or disk I/O can severely limit performance. A shared hosting environment may not provide adequate resources for a busy wiki.
  • **Database Issues:** Slow queries, unoptimized tables, and database server configuration are frequent culprits. Large tables, especially those containing revision history, can become problematic. Database replication can help alleviate load.
  • **PHP Configuration:** Incorrectly configured PHP settings, such as memory limits or execution time, can hinder performance.
  • **Caching Issues:** Ineffective or disabled caching mechanisms force the wiki to repeatedly perform expensive operations. This is especially true for complex pages with many templates or images. Consider using both server-side and client-side caching.
  • **Extension Conflicts & Performance:** Some extensions can be resource-intensive or conflict with each other, leading to performance degradation. Disable extensions one by one to identify problematic ones.
  • **Large Page Sizes:** Pages with excessive content, numerous images, or complex templates take longer to render.
  • **High Traffic:** A sudden surge in traffic can overwhelm the server, resulting in slow response times. Load balancing may be necessary for high-traffic wikis.
  • **Network Latency:** Slow network connections between the user, web server, and database server can contribute to perceived performance issues.
  • **Software Versions:** Outdated versions of MediaWiki, PHP, or the database can contain bugs or performance limitations. Keeping your software up-to-date is crucial.
  • **Search Indexing:** Slow or incomplete search indexing impacts the speed of search results.

Monitoring System Performance

Regular monitoring is essential for identifying and addressing performance issues proactively. Here are some techniques:

  • **Server Monitoring:** Use tools like `top`, `htop`, `vmstat`, and `iostat` (on Linux/Unix systems) to monitor CPU usage, memory usage, disk I/O, and network activity. Windows Server has its own performance monitoring tools. [1](Datadoghq) and [2](New Relic) offer more advanced monitoring capabilities.
  • **Web Server Logs:** Analyze web server logs (Apache or Nginx) for errors, slow requests, and other anomalies. Tools like `goaccess` and `awstats` can help visualize log data. [3](Apache Logs) and [4](Nginx Logging)
  • **PHP Error Logs:** Check the PHP error logs for any errors or warnings that might indicate performance problems.
  • **Slow Query Log (MySQL/MariaDB):** Enable the slow query log in your database server to identify queries that are taking a long time to execute. [5](MySQL Slow Query Log)
  • **MediaWiki Statistics:** Utilize Special:Statistics to gather basic performance metrics.
  • **Profiling Tools:** PHP profiling tools like Xdebug and Blackfire.io can help identify performance bottlenecks in your PHP code. [6](Xdebug), [7](Blackfire.io)
  • **Real User Monitoring (RUM):** Tools like Google Analytics can provide insights into how real users are experiencing your wiki's performance. [8](Google Analytics)
  • **Page Load Time Testing:** Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights ([9](Google PageSpeed Insights)), GTmetrix ([10](GTmetrix)), or WebPageTest ([11](WebPageTest)) to measure page load times and identify areas for improvement.


Optimization Strategies

Once you've identified the bottlenecks, you can implement the following optimization strategies:

  • **Hardware Upgrades:** If server resources are consistently maxed out, consider upgrading the CPU, RAM, or disk I/O. Switching to an SSD can significantly improve performance.
  • **Database Optimization:**
   * **Indexing:**  Ensure that frequently queried columns are properly indexed. Use `EXPLAIN` to analyze query execution plans and identify missing indexes. [12](Explain Plan)
   * **Query Optimization:** Rewrite slow queries to make them more efficient. Avoid using `SELECT *` when only specific columns are needed. Use joins instead of subqueries when possible.
   * **Table Optimization:**  Regularly optimize tables to reclaim space and improve performance.  Use `OPTIMIZE TABLE` (MySQL/MariaDB) or `VACUUM` (PostgreSQL).
   * **Database Caching:** Configure the database server to use caching effectively.
   * **Database Replication:** Implement database replication to distribute the read load across multiple servers. [13](MySQL Replication)
  • **PHP Optimization:**
   * **Opcode Caching:** Use an opcode cache like OPcache to store compiled PHP code, reducing the need for repeated compilation. [14](PHP OpCache)
   * **PHP Version:** Use the latest stable version of PHP for performance improvements and security fixes.
   * **Memory Limit:** Increase the PHP memory limit if necessary, but avoid setting it too high.
   * **Realpath Cache:** Optimize the `realpath_cache_size` and `realpath_cache_ttl` settings in `php.ini`.
  • **Caching:**
   * **MediaWiki Caching:**  Enable and configure MediaWiki's built-in caching mechanisms, including object caching (Memcached or Redis) and parser caching. [15](MediaWiki Caching)
   * **Varnish Cache:**  Use Varnish Cache as a reverse proxy to cache frequently accessed pages. [16](Varnish Cache)
   * **Browser Caching:** Configure your web server to enable browser caching, allowing users to store static assets locally.
  • **Extension Management:** Disable or replace resource-intensive extensions. Keep extensions up-to-date.
  • **Image Optimization:** Optimize images for web use by reducing file size and using appropriate formats (JPEG, PNG, WebP). [17](TinyPNG)
  • **Code Optimization:** Minimize the use of complex templates and loops in your wiki code.
  • **Content Delivery Network (CDN):** Use a CDN to distribute static assets (images, CSS, JavaScript) across multiple servers, reducing latency for users in different geographic locations. [18](Cloudflare)
  • **Regular Maintenance:** Regularly run maintenance scripts to clean up old revisions, update search indexes, and perform other maintenance tasks. `maintenance/run.php` script. [19](Maintenance Scripts)
  • **Load Balancing:** Distribute traffic across multiple servers using a load balancer. [20](Load Balancing)
  • **HTTP/2 & HTTP/3:** Enable HTTP/2 or HTTP/3 on your web server to improve performance by allowing multiple requests to be sent over a single connection. [21](HTTP/2) and [22](HTTP/3)



Specific Considerations for MediaWiki 1.40

MediaWiki 1.40 introduced several performance improvements, particularly in the areas of caching and database interaction. However, it's still important to follow the general optimization strategies outlined above. Specifically, ensure you are utilizing the latest version of PHP supported by MediaWiki 1.40 and that your database server is properly configured for optimal performance. Pay close attention to the configuration settings related to object caching and parser caching, as these can have a significant impact on performance. Also, review the release notes for MediaWiki 1.40 ([23](MediaWiki 1.40 Release Notes)) for any specific performance-related recommendations.

Troubleshooting Slow Pages

If a specific page is slow to load, try the following:

1. **Use your browser's developer tools:** Identify which resources are taking the longest to load (images, CSS, JavaScript). 2. **Disable extensions:** Temporarily disable extensions to see if one is causing the problem. 3. **Simplify the page:** Remove content or templates to see if that improves performance. 4. **Check the database:** Run a slow query analysis to see if the page is triggering slow database queries. 5. **Check server logs:** Look for errors or warnings in the web server and PHP logs.

Conclusion

Optimizing system performance for a MediaWiki installation is an ongoing process. By understanding the core components, identifying bottlenecks, and implementing appropriate optimization strategies, you can ensure a smooth and responsive experience for your users. Regular monitoring and maintenance are essential for maintaining optimal performance over time. Remember to test any changes thoroughly before deploying them to a production environment. Consider using tools like [24](Newman) to automate performance testing. Also, explore resources on [25](MySQL Performance) and [26](Website Speed Optimization) even though they focus on WordPress, many principles apply. Finally, don’t hesitate to consult the MediaWiki documentation ([27](MediaWiki Configuration)) and community forums for assistance.


Special:MyPreferences Help:Contents Manual:Configuration settings Manual:Upgrading Manual:Database setup Manual:Extension installation Manual:Administering MediaWiki Manual:FAQ Manual:Command-line tools Special:Statistics

Performance testing Server monitoring tools Database indexing strategies PHP opcode caching Web server configuration Caching techniques Load balancing algorithms Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) Image optimization tools Database replication methods HTTP/2 protocol HTTP/3 protocol Slow query analysis Real User Monitoring (RUM) MediaWiki performance extensions Web performance best practices Database schema optimization PHP profiling tools Server resource management Network latency reduction Browser caching strategies MediaWiki configuration tuning Monitoring system metrics Capacity planning Scalability strategies Troubleshooting performance issues Security considerations Regular maintenance routines

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