Title: High CPU usage Last modified: August 21, 2016 --- # High CPU usage * Resolved [kazzie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kazzie/) * (@kazzie) * [12 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/) * I got the following message from Hostgator yesterday. I don’t understand any of the logs or technical detail given that – I think – whould show me where to look for the problem – how can I tell from this if it because of a plugin or something else. If anybody could give me some tips I would be really grateful. I have two blogs and they are both now disabled completely. I am waiting for Hostgator to give me temporray access to my admin page so I can fix it and want to be ready to know what I should try and change. My websites only get about 100 visitors a day each. Here is the message I received: * > This message is to advise you of a temporary resource limitation on your account. > Your account has exceeded our extreme usage threshold for several hours. You > can view your CPU usage by logging into cPanel. It is located in the left side > bar under statistics. We do not actively disable accounts until they greatly > exceed our Terms of Service CPU limitation (25%). > Performance of your site may become degraded by this resource limiting, additionally > if the extreme usage persists and continues to affect server stability your > account may be disabled entirely. > Once the extreme CPU usage has stopped on your account, the restriction will > be removed within 3 hours. Alternatively, if you have fixed the CPU usage, > you may unrestrict your account up to five times by logging into your cPanel > account: > *** NOTICE: You may only unrestrict your account 5 times before a permanent > ban will be issued! *** > We recommend taking steps to reduce the overall CPU usage for the account, > which may be as simple as the following: > * Generating a flat HTML page for > popular content. * Enabling caching that is available through many popular > scripts. * Disabling high CPU usage features such as searches or Ajax refreshes. > Logs of the CPU usage are provided below: > ``` > CPU seconds used in the past hour: 2885.60000000001, 81% CPU > > Thu Nov 21 15:01:08 CST 2013 > Running Processes: > kazzie 15181 50.0 0.1 328940 45276 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > kazzie 15182 54.0 0.1 333084 49416 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > kazzie 15219 0.0 0.0 301876 17128 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > kazzie 15247 0.0 0.0 201600 10232 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > > Running Queries: > *************************** 1. row *************************** > USER: kazzie_kazzie > DB: kazzie_southdata > STATE: > TIME: 0 > COMMAND: Sleep > INFO: NULL > *************************** 2. row *************************** > USER: kazzie_kazzie > DB: kazzie_southdata > STATE: > TIME: 0 > COMMAND: Sleep > INFO: NULL > > Open connections > > Current Site Requests: > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com / > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com / > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com / > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com / > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com / > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com / > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com / > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com / > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com /wp-comments-post.php > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com /wp-comments-post.php > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com /wp-comments-post.php > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com /wp-comments-post.php > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com /wp-comments-post.php > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com /wp-comments-post.php > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com /wp-content/cache/qc-c-68a87fb1508773a9dc151775dd27b130-68a > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com /wp-content/cache/qc-c-68a87fb1508773a9dc151775dd27b130-68a > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com /wp-content/cache/qc-c-68a87fb1508773a9dc151775dd27b130-68a > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com /wp-content/cache/qc-c-68a87fb1508773a9dc151775dd27b130-68a > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com /wp-content/cache/qc-c-68a87fb1508773a9dc151775dd27b130-68a > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com /wp-content/cache/qc-c-68a87fb1508773a9dc151775dd27b130-68a > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com /wp-content/cache/qc-c-68a87fb1508773a9dc151775dd27b130-68a > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com /wp-content/cache/qc-c-68a87fb1508773a9dc151775dd27b130-68a > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com /wp-content/cache/qc-c-68a87fb1508773a9dc151775dd27b130-68a > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com /wp-content/cache/qc-c-68a87fb1508773a9dc151775dd27b130-68a > 76.164.208.163 thesouthafricaguide.com /wp-content/cache/qc-c-68a87fb1508773a9dc151775dd27b130-68a > > Doc Root: /home4/kazzie/public_html > > CPU Usage: 127% (warning) > > Snapshot 1 > kazzie 15181 34.5 0.1 346104 62588 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > kazzie 15182 36.5 0.1 348196 64556 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > kazzie 15219 42.0 0.1 321512 37860 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > kazzie 15247 38.0 0.1 318100 34144 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > > Snapshot 2 > kazzie 15181 36.0 0.1 347668 64200 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > kazzie 15182 38.0 0.2 350284 66912 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > kazzie 15219 45.0 0.1 323560 40008 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > kazzie 15247 40.0 0.1 319936 36008 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > > Snapshot 3 > kazzie 15181 37.0 0.1 348988 65548 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > kazzie 15182 39.5 0.2 352368 68732 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > kazzie 15219 48.0 0.1 325356 41872 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > kazzie 15247 42.0 0.1 321252 37556 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > > Snapshot 4 > kazzie 15181 38.5 0.2 351056 67688 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > kazzie 15182 41.0 0.2 353900 70488 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > kazzie 15219 51.0 0.1 327916 44312 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > kazzie 15247 45.0 0.1 323308 39540 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > > Snapshot 5 > kazzie 15181 39.5 0.2 352880 69408 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > kazzie 15182 41.5 0.2 354156 70748 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > kazzie 15219 53.0 0.1 329728 46252 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > kazzie 15247 48.0 0.1 325868 42264 ? RN 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/php /home4/kazzie/public_html/index.php > > Current load: 15:01:09 up 148 days, 3:14, 0 users, load average: 0.06, 0.01, 0.00 > ``` > Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 18 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/page/2/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/page/2/?output_format=md) * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [12 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/#post-4343021) * Have you tried: * – deactivating **all** plugins to see if this resolves the problem. If this works, re-activate the plugins one by one until you find the problematic plugin(s). * – switching to the default theme to rule out any theme-specific problems. * – [resetting the plugins folder](http://codex.wordpress.org/FAQ_Troubleshooting#How_to_deactivate_all_plugins_when_not_able_to_access_the_administrative_menus.3F) by FTP or PhpMyAdmin. Sometimes, an apparently inactive plugin can still cause problems. * Why are you using an old copy of WordPress? Were you aware that your site is currently running a very real risk of being hacked? You need to upgrade WordPress asap. * Thread Starter [kazzie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kazzie/) * (@kazzie) * [12 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/#post-4343024) * Hi Esme, thank you – I will try all of the above as soon as I get access to my sites again. And yes you are right about the old wordpress – I will update as soon as I can get back in. * However, if Hostgator is giving me temporary access that means my site will be up so by doing all of the above how will I know which one has caused the high CPU usage? * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [12 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/#post-4343027) * You could try working with your hosts on this by re-activating plugins & theme one by one and monitoring the cpu usage. * Thread Starter [kazzie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kazzie/) * (@kazzie) * [12 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/#post-4343028) * Thanks again for your advice 🙂 * [dauidus](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dauidus/) * (@dauidus) * [12 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/#post-4343035) * Try the plugin ‘WP Overview (lite) Footer Memory Usage’. That is, of course, after you deactivate all other plugins. Then, check the memory usage as you activate each one to determine the problem source. * Thread Starter [kazzie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kazzie/) * (@kazzie) * [12 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/#post-4343038) * Thanks dauidus – will do that 🙂 * [SWalberg](https://wordpress.org/support/users/swalberg/) * (@swalberg) * [12 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/#post-4343101) * Check your logs for requests from that address (76.164.208.163). I’m not sure I’m reading the output correctly but it’s possible that host is hammering your site trying to spam you. * Even if WordPress’ usage for a single request is low, lots of requests at the same time will use much more resources. * Thread Starter [kazzie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kazzie/) * (@kazzie) * [12 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/#post-4343104) * Sorry for my ignorance but where do I check my logs? * Thread Starter [kazzie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kazzie/) * (@kazzie) * [12 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/#post-4343107) * I just looked up this IP address ( 76.164.208.163) that appears so many times in the email from my hosting company and it comes up immediately as bot spam and is blacklisted. I do get a lot of comments that go straight to spam in my website and some of the names i found linked to this IP address are exactly the same as the spam I get. I think the first thing I should do when I can get back into my websites is disallow comments on my site. * [SWalberg](https://wordpress.org/support/users/swalberg/) * (@swalberg) * [12 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/#post-4343112) * I’m not a cPanel user, but there should be some way of blocking just that IP address from accessing your site. * cPanel -> IP Deny Manager is what Google tells me, YYMV though. * Thread Starter [kazzie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kazzie/) * (@kazzie) * [12 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/#post-4343114) * I will ask hostgator if I can do that – thanks again 🙂 * [wonderling66](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wonderling66/) * (@wonderling66) * [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/#post-4343303) * Hi, Kazzie did you fix it? i met the same problem. do you have any suggestion? * Thread Starter [kazzie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kazzie/) * (@kazzie) * [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/#post-4343304) * Hi! Yes I resolved it by first blocking the IP address in my cpanel and then just to be safe I changed my settings in wordpress so people cannot comment. I was getting a ridiculous amount of spam in my comments. Since then everything has been fine. You should be in touch with your hosting site – they will help. * [wonderling66](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wonderling66/) * (@wonderling66) * [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/#post-4343305) * Hi Kazzie, Thanks a lot. I have contacted with my host just now. * Thanks again. Wish my problem can be fixed this time. * [turbox](https://wordpress.org/support/users/turbox/) * (@turbox) * [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/#post-4343306) * I have installed the Wordfence Plugin on all my sites and cant believe the number of bad IP logins from around the world using “admin” and even some other possible logins gleaned from my site. * Wordfence is my best WP friend now…. along with Acunetix WP security which covers other aspects of security. * Both these seem to live happy together keeping me safe. Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 18 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/page/2/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/page/2/?output_format=md) The topic ‘High CPU usage’ is closed to new replies. ## Tags * [high cpu usage](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/high-cpu-usage/) * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 18 replies * 7 participants * Last reply from: [James](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jameshilliard/) * Last activity: [11 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/high-cpu-usage-9/page/2/#post-4343313) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics