How to Upgrade Your Server Hardware for Better Performance

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  1. How to Upgrade Your Server Hardware for Better Performance

This article details how to upgrade your server hardware to improve the performance of your MediaWiki installation. It is geared towards system administrators with some existing server experience. Proper planning and execution are critical to minimize downtime and ensure data integrity. Before undertaking any hardware changes, *always* create a full server backup! This includes the wiki database, the `mw-config.php` file, and the `images` directory. Refer to the Manual:Backups page for detailed instructions.

Understanding Performance Bottlenecks

Before buying new hardware, identify the primary performance bottleneck. Common issues include:

  • **CPU:** High CPU usage during peak times indicates a need for a faster processor or more cores. Use tools like `top` or `htop` on Linux systems to monitor CPU utilization.
  • **RAM:** Insufficient RAM leads to swapping, significantly slowing down the server. Monitor RAM usage with `free -m` or similar tools. MediaWiki's caching relies heavily on available RAM. See Manual:Configuration settings for caching settings.
  • **Disk I/O:** Slow disk access hinders database operations and image serving. Tools like `iotop` can help identify disk I/O bottlenecks.
  • **Network:** Limited network bandwidth can impact page load times, especially for users accessing the wiki remotely. Use `iftop` to monitor network traffic.

CPU Upgrade Considerations

A CPU upgrade can dramatically improve performance, especially if your wiki handles a large number of edits or views. Consider the following:

  • **Core Count:** More cores allow the server to handle more concurrent requests.
  • **Clock Speed:** Higher clock speeds generally translate to faster processing.
  • **Cache Size:** Larger CPU caches improve performance by reducing the need to access RAM.
  • **Socket Compatibility:** Ensure the new CPU is compatible with your server's motherboard socket.

Here's a comparison of some CPU options:

CPU Model Cores/Threads Clock Speed (GHz) L3 Cache (MB) Approximate Cost (USD)
Intel Xeon E3-1220 v6 4/8 3.3 8 $200
Intel Xeon E5-2680 v4 14/28 2.4 35 $400
AMD EPYC 7302P 16/32 3.0 64 $600

RAM Upgrade Guide

Increasing RAM is often the most cost-effective way to improve MediaWiki performance.

  • **Capacity:** The amount of RAM required depends on the size of your wiki and the number of concurrent users. A good starting point is 16GB, but larger wikis may benefit from 32GB or more.
  • **Speed:** Faster RAM (e.g., DDR4 3200MHz) can improve performance, but ensure it is compatible with your motherboard.
  • **Type:** Use the correct RAM type (e.g., DDR4, DDR5) for your server.
  • **ECC RAM:** Error-Correcting Code (ECC) RAM is recommended for servers to improve data reliability. See Server requirements for details.

Here's a table illustrating RAM requirements based on wiki size:

Wiki Size (Number of Pages) Recommended RAM Concurrent Users (Approximate)
< 1,000 8GB < 50
1,000 - 10,000 16GB 50 - 200
10,000 - 100,000 32GB+ 200+

Storage Upgrade: SSD vs. HDD

Replacing traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) with Solid State Drives (SSDs) can significantly improve performance.

  • **SSD:** Offers much faster read/write speeds, reducing database query times and page load times. Recommended for the database and MediaWiki installation. Consider NVMe SSDs for even faster performance.
  • **HDD:** Suitable for storing large files like images and videos, but can be a performance bottleneck.

Here's a comparison of SSD and HDD specifications:

Feature HDD SSD
Read Speed (MB/s) 50-150 500-7000
Write Speed (MB/s) 50-150 300-6000
Access Time (ms) 5-10 0.1-0.2
Cost per GB $0.05 - $0.10 $0.10 - $0.30

For database performance, consult the Database setup documentation.

Post-Upgrade Verification

After upgrading your hardware, verify that the performance has improved.

  • **Monitor CPU, RAM, and Disk I/O:** Use the tools mentioned earlier to ensure utilization is within acceptable limits.
  • **Test Page Load Times:** Use tools like WebPageTest or Google PageSpeed Insights to measure page load times.
  • **Run Performance Benchmarks:** Consider running a MediaWiki performance benchmark to quantify the improvements. See Performance benchmarking.
  • **Monitor Error Logs:** Check the MediaWiki error logs for any new errors or warnings. Refer to Debugging.

Important Considerations

  • **Power Supply:** Ensure your power supply has sufficient wattage to handle the new hardware.
  • **Cooling:** Upgraded hardware may generate more heat, requiring improved cooling.
  • **BIOS Updates:** Update your server's BIOS to ensure compatibility with the new hardware.
  • **Server Redundancy:** Consider implementing server redundancy for high availability. See Server clusters.




Manual:Configuration settings Server requirements Database setup Manual:Backups Performance benchmarking Debugging Server clusters Extension:ParserFunctions Help:Tables Help:Links Help:Formatting Manual:Upgrading Manual:Configuration Manual:Admin Special:Statistics Help:Contents


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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