Latest revision as of 19:20, 2 October 2025

Server Configuration Documentation: High-Performance MediaWiki Deployment (v1.40)

Introduction

This document details the optimal server hardware configuration designed specifically for hosting a large-scale, high-concurrency deployment of MediaWiki version 1.40. This configuration prioritizes I/O throughput, low-latency memory access, and robust processing power to handle complex database queries, extensive caching mechanisms (like OPCache and Memcached), and high volumes of concurrent user editing sessions typical of enterprise knowledge bases or large public wikis.

1. Hardware Specifications

The foundation of this deployment relies on enterprise-grade components engineered for 24/7 operation and predictable latency under sustained load. We specify a 2U rackmount server chassis populated with dual-socket Intel Xeon Scalable processors (4th Generation, Sapphire Rapids architecture) for maximum core density and memory bandwidth.

1.1. Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The choice of CPU focuses on high clock speeds combined with a substantial L3 cache to accelerate database lookups and PHP opcode execution.

CPU Configuration Details
Parameter	Specification
Model	2 x Intel Xeon Gold 6448Y (32 Cores, 64 Threads each)
Total Cores/Threads	64 Cores / 128 Threads
Base Clock Frequency	2.5 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency (Single Core)	Up to 4.5 GHz
L3 Cache (Total)	120 MB (60 MB per socket)
TDP (Thermal Design Power)	250W per socket
Instruction Sets Utilized	AVX-512, AMX (for potential future acceleration layers)

The high core count is crucial for managing concurrent PHP-FPM workers and handling background tasks like image processing and cache invalidation without impacting front-end latency. CPU Architecture Considerations are detailed in the appendix.

1.2. System Memory (RAM)

MediaWiki performance is heavily dependent on effective caching, necessitating substantial RAM allocation for the OS page cache, database buffer pools (if using InnoDB), and PHP/OpCache storage. We mandate DDR5 ECC RDIMMs for superior bandwidth and data integrity.

Memory Allocation and Configuration
Parameter	Specification
Total Capacity	1024 GB (1 TB)
Module Type	DDR5 ECC Registered DIMM (RDIMM)
Speed / Frequency	4800 MT/s (PC5-38400)
Configuration	16 x 64 GB DIMMs (Populating 8 channels per CPU symmetrically)
Memory Speed Rating (Relative to CPU)	Optimal (Full Quad-Channel per CPU configuration supported)
Primary Caching Role	Shared memory for Memcached and Database Buffer Pool

Adequate RAM ensures that the entire active dataset of the wiki (including frequently accessed articles, templates, and session data) remains resident in memory, minimizing disk I/O latency. RAM Sizing Guide for MediaWiki provides further context.

1.3. Storage Subsystem

The storage configuration employs a tiered approach to maximize read/write performance where it matters most: metadata operations and page content retrieval. We use NVMe SSDs exclusively for the operating system, database, and MediaWiki file storage.

Storage Topology and Specifications
Tier	Role	Technology	Capacity	Performance Target (IOPS R/W)
Tier 0 (OS/System)	Boot Volume, Logs	2 x 1.92 TB NVMe U.2 (RAID 1)	3.84 TB Usable	> 500K / > 450K
Tier 1 (Database)	MariaDB/MySQL Data Files (InnoDB)	4 x 3.84 TB NVMe U.2 (RAID 10 via Hardware RAID Card)	7.68 TB Usable	> 1.5 Million / > 1.2 Million
Tier 2 (File Store)	Local File Cache, Uploads, Thumbnails	4 x 7.68 TB NVMe U.2 (RAID 5 Configuration)	23.04 TB Usable	Balanced throughput

The use of a dedicated hardware RAID controller with high-speed cache and battery backup unit (BBU) is mandatory for managing the Tier 1 database array, ensuring write ordering and transactional integrity. NVMe RAID Best Practices should be reviewed before deployment.

1.4. Networking Interface

High concurrency demands low-latency network egress and ingress.

Network Interface Card (NIC) Specification
Parameter	Specification
Primary Interface	2 x 25 Gigabit Ethernet (SFP28)
Configuration	Active/Standby Failover or LACP Bonding (depending on upstream switch capabilities)
Latency Target	< 10 microseconds (Host-to-Switch)

2. Performance Characteristics

This hardware configuration is rated to handle significant load, characterized by low latency under stress and high throughput for media delivery. Benchmarks are simulated using a production-representative dataset consisting of 5 million pages, 200 million revisions, and 500 GB of structured data.

2.1. Database Query Latency Benchmarks

Database performance is the primary bottleneck in large MediaWiki deployments. The configuration below targets sub-millisecond latency for 95% of read operations.

Test Environment: MariaDB 10.11 (Tuned InnoDB, using large `innodb_buffer_pool_size` allocated from the 1TB RAM pool).

Query Latency Under Load (Simulated 500 Concurrent Read Queries/sec)
Query Type	Average Latency (ms)	95th Percentile Latency (ms)
Simple Page Read (Cached)	0.12 ms	0.25 ms
Complex Category Listing (Uncached Index Hit)	1.8 ms	3.5 ms
Search Query (Fulltext Index Scan)	4.5 ms	8.9 ms
Image Metadata Retrieval (JOIN heavy)	0.9 ms	1.5 ms

The performance gains from the high-speed NVMe RAID 10 array are evident, especially in the complex query category where disk access is unavoidable even with heavy database caching. Database Tuning for MediaWiki outlines the required OS and DB parameter adjustments.

2.2. PHP Execution and Concurrency

PHP-FPM is configured to utilize the available 128 threads efficiently. We employ PHP 8.3 with the latest Opcache configuration.

Workload Simulation: 100 concurrent users performing mixed read/write operations (editing, viewing, minor search).

**PHP Process Count:** 150 FPM workers initialized.
**Opcache Hit Rate Target:** > 99.5%
**Average Page Load Time (Full Stack, including rendering):** 145 ms (for cached pages).
**Peak Write Transaction Rate:** Sustained 40 edits per second (including image uploads and subsequent cache invalidation).

The high memory bandwidth of the DDR5 platform ensures that memory-intensive serialization/deserialization tasks inherent in MediaWiki object handling are completed rapidly. PHP-FPM Process Management is critical for stability here.

2.3. Throughput and I/O Saturation

The storage subsystem is designed to prevent I/O saturation during peak load, particularly for media delivery.

**Sustained Write Throughput (Tier 2, RAID 5 NVMe):** ~4.5 GB/s
**Sustained Read Throughput (Tier 2, Serving Thumbnails):** ~7.8 GB/s

If the wiki serves significant traffic directly (i.e., bypassing a CDN), the 25GbE network interface will become the limiting factor before the storage subsystem reaches its theoretical maximum. CDN Integration Strategy is highly recommended for deployments exceeding 10,000 page views per minute.

3. Recommended Use Cases

This specific hardware configuration is engineered for scenarios demanding high availability, low latency, and the capacity to manage large, rapidly evolving datasets.

3.1. Enterprise Internal Knowledge Repository

Ideal for large corporations (5,000+ internal users) requiring a single source of truth. The low latency ensures technical documentation updates are immediately visible, and complex search indexing remains responsive during core operational hours.

3.2. High-Traffic Public Wiki or Encyclopedia

Suitable for public-facing wikis expecting sustained traffic spikes (e.g., during major news events or product launches). The 128 threads allow the system to gracefully absorb traffic bursts while maintaining acceptable response times for editors. Scaling Read Operations provides operational guidelines.

3.3. Development and Staging Environment (Mirroring Production)

This tier serves as an excellent production mirror for complex integration testing. The full hardware parity ensures that performance regressions identified during staging truly reflect production behavior, unlike smaller, under-provisioned test boxes. Staging Environment Synchronization details data migration procedures.

3.4. Specialized Media Archives

While dedicated NAS/SAN solutions might be faster for pure sequential media streaming, this configuration excels when MediaWiki must *manage* and *process* media (thumbnails, metadata extraction, version control) alongside serving the content.

4. Comparison with Similar Configurations

To justify the investment in this high-end configuration, it is useful to compare it against two common alternatives: a Standard Configuration (suitable for small to medium wikis) and an Over-Provisioned Configuration (for extreme, archival-level traffic).

4.1. Configuration Comparison Table

Server Configuration Comparison Matrix
Feature	Standard Config (Medium Wiki)	High-Performance Config (This Document)	Over-Provisioned Config (Extreme Load)
CPU Setup	1 x Xeon Silver (16 Cores)	2 x Xeon Gold (64 Cores)	2 x Xeon Platinum (88+ Cores)
RAM Capacity	256 GB DDR4	1024 GB DDR5	2048 GB DDR5
Primary Storage	SATA SSDs (RAID 5)	NVMe U.2 (RAID 10/5)	All NVMe AICs (Direct Attached)
Network Interface	2 x 10 GbE	2 x 25 GbE	4 x 100 GbE
Target User Load (Concurrent Editors)	50-150	300-600	1000+
Estimated Latency (95th Percentile Reads)	15 ms	< 4 ms	< 1 ms (Heavily Memcached reliant)

4.2. Analysis of Trade-offs

The Standard Configuration will suffer significant database lock contention and slow rendering times when scaling past 150 concurrent active users, primarily due to slower storage I/O and limited memory for the InnoDB buffer pool.

The Over-Provisioned Configuration offers marginal gains in typical read scenarios (where the database is already heavily cached) but incurs significantly higher capital expenditure and power draw. The bottleneck shifts away from the CPU/RAM towards the network fabric or external load balancers. Load Balancing Strategies for MediaWiki becomes mandatory at that scale.

This High-Performance Configuration strikes the optimal balance, ensuring that the primary bottlenecks (CPU scheduling and disk latency) are aggressively mitigated using enterprise-grade components, leading to a significantly better Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) compared to the Over-Provisioned tier for the target workload.

5. Maintenance Considerations

Deploying hardware of this specification requires adherence to strict operational and environmental standards to ensure longevity and performance consistency.

5.1. Thermal Management and Cooling

The combined TDP of the dual 250W CPUs, plus the power draw of 1024 GB of high-speed DDR5 RAM and multiple NVMe drives, results in a substantial thermal output.

**Required Rack Density:** This server should be placed in a high-airflow rack maintained at ISO Class 5 (ASHRAE A2/A3 standards).
**Ambient Temperature Target:** 18°C – 22°C (64°F – 72°F).
**Airflow Management:** Proper blanking panels and hot/cold aisle containment are non-negotiable. Insufficient cooling will lead to thermal throttling of the Xeon processors, immediately degrading performance below anticipated benchmarks. Server Cooling Best Practices must be followed.

5.2. Power Requirements and Redundancy

The peak power draw under full load (including storage and networking) can exceed 1200W.

**Power Supply Units (PSUs):** Dual 1600W 80+ Platinum redundant PSUs are required.
**UPS/PDU:** The system must be connected to an Online Double-Conversion UPS providing at least 30 minutes of runtime at peak load, feeding from dual independent Power Distribution Units (PDUs). Data Center Power Standards compliance is mandatory.

5.3. Software Patching and Firmware Management

Maintaining the integrity of the high-speed components requires rigorous firmware management.

1. **BIOS/UEFI:** Must be kept current to ensure optimal memory training and CPU microcode performance fixes. 2. **RAID Controller Firmware:** Critical for NVMe stability; firmware updates must be tested rigorously, as buggy controller firmware can lead to silent data corruption or array failure under high IOPS. Firmware Update Procedures must be strictly adhered to. 3. **OS Kernel:** Utilize a kernel optimized for low-latency I/O scheduling (e.g., tuned RHEL or specific Debian/Ubuntu low-latency kernels). Kernel Tuning for Database Servers.

5.4. Backup and Disaster Recovery

Given the massive dataset size (potentially tens of terabytes including archives), standard file-level backups are insufficient.

**Database Backups:** Utilize MariaDB/MySQL Enterprise Backup or Percona XtraBackup for hot, non-blocking physical backups of the InnoDB tablespaces, followed by binary log shipping. Database Backup Strategy.
**File System Snapshots:** Leverage ZFS or LVM snapshots for rapid point-in-time recovery of the file store (Tier 2). Filesystem Snapshotting Guide.
**Offsite Replication:** All critical data must be asynchronously replicated to a geographically separate recovery site. Disaster Recovery Planning.

5.5. Monitoring and Alerting

Proactive monitoring is essential to preempt performance degradation. Key metrics to monitor include:

CPU Utilization (per core, watching for thread starvation).
Memory Pressure (Swap usage must never exceed 1GB).
Disk Latency (Especially 99th percentile latency on Tier 1 reads).
DB Connection Pool Saturation.
Network Interface Errors/Drops.

Tools like Prometheus/Grafana integrated with specialized exporters (e.g., `node_exporter`, `mysqld_exporter`) are recommended for granular visibility. Performance Monitoring Tools.

Conclusion

This high-performance MediaWiki configuration leverages cutting-edge server technology—specifically high-core count CPUs, high-bandwidth DDR5 memory, and ultra-fast NVMe storage arrays—to deliver sub-second response times for complex wiki operations under heavy load. Successful deployment relies not only on the initial hardware specification but also on disciplined operational procedures regarding cooling, power redundancy, and continuous software tuning. MediaWiki Deployment Checklist should be used during rollout.

Further reading on specific optimization layers:

Intel-Based Server Configurations

Configuration	Specifications	Benchmark
Core i7-6700K/7700 Server	64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 512 GB	CPU Benchmark: 8046
Core i7-8700 Server	64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2x1 TB	CPU Benchmark: 13124
Core i9-9900K Server	128 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 1 TB	CPU Benchmark: 49969
Core i9-13900 Server (64GB)	64 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD
Core i9-13900 Server (128GB)	128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD
Core i5-13500 Server (64GB)	64 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD
Core i5-13500 Server (128GB)	128 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD
Core i5-13500 Workstation	64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2 NVMe SSD, NVIDIA RTX 4000

AMD-Based Server Configurations

Configuration	Specifications	Benchmark
Ryzen 5 3600 Server	64 GB RAM, 2x480 GB NVMe	CPU Benchmark: 17849
Ryzen 7 7700 Server	64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2x1 TB NVMe	CPU Benchmark: 35224
Ryzen 9 5950X Server	128 GB RAM, 2x4 TB NVMe	CPU Benchmark: 46045
Ryzen 9 7950X Server	128 GB DDR5 ECC, 2x2 TB NVMe	CPU Benchmark: 63561
EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/1TB)	128 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe	CPU Benchmark: 48021
EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/2TB)	128 GB RAM, 2 TB NVMe	CPU Benchmark: 48021
EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/4TB)	128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe	CPU Benchmark: 48021
EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/1TB)	256 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe	CPU Benchmark: 48021
EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/4TB)	256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe	CPU Benchmark: 48021
EPYC 9454P Server	256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe

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⚠️ *Note: All benchmark scores are approximate and may vary based on configuration. Server availability subject to stock.* ⚠️

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