Title: lfd Excessive resource usage
Last modified: October 19, 2017

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# lfd Excessive resource usage

 *  Resolved [johnmccurdy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/johnmccurdy/)
 * (@johnmccurdy)
 * [8 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lfd-excessive-resource-usage/)
 * For the past several weeks, I get one email each day from each of the accounts
   that run Wordfence on my Linux VPS, that looks like this (where “nnnnn” is the
   account name on the server):
 * ________________________
    Subject: lfd on host.MY_SERVER_DOMAIN.com: Excessive
   resource usage: nnnnn (22263 (Parent PID:30555))
 * Time: Wed Oct 18 14:48:00 2017 -0700
    Account: nnnnn Resource: Virtual Memory
   Size Exceeded: 511 > 500 (MB) Executable: /opt/cpanel/ea-php56/root/usr/bin/php-
   cgi Command Line: /opt/cpanel/ea-php56/root/usr/bin/php-cgi /home/nnnnn/public_html/
   wp-admin/admin-ajax.php PID: 22263 (Parent PID:30555) Killed: No _____________________________
 * When I’ve checked the logs, each occurrence seems to coincide with a Wordfence
   scan on that account.
 * Any ideas or suggestions?
 * Thanks!

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

 *  [swedeman](https://wordpress.org/support/users/swedeman/)
 * (@swedeman)
 * [8 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lfd-excessive-resource-usage/#post-9605093)
 * In CSF raise the PT_USERMEM setting.
 * We’ve also noticed a performance improvement by moving to PHP 7.
 *  [wfalaa](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wfalaa/)
 * (@wfalaa)
 * [8 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lfd-excessive-resource-usage/#post-9605110)
 * Hi johnmccurdy,
    It seems that you are exceeding the memory limit defined in 
   the CSF configuration file, it could be that your server is utilizing too much
   memory already and when it comes to scan time it just exceeds the limit, in my
   opinion you have three options there: 1- Increase the memory limit defined in
   CSF. (in case you already have this amount available for your server). 2- Optimize
   the memory usage on the server (decrease number of plugins installed, optimize
   other scripts running on the server, etc…), or even create a swap partition that
   will be used for virtual memory as well. 3- Do the following to decrease the 
   memory usage in Wordfence scans:
    - Uncheck “[Scan images, binary, and other files as if they were executable](https://docs.wordfence.com/en/Wordfence_options#Scan_image_files_as_if_they_were_executable)”
      option in case it was enabled.
    - If you have bulky log/back-up files on the server that you are sure they are
      safe, you can exclude them using “[Exclude files from scan that match these wildcard patterns](https://docs.wordfence.com/en/Wordfence_options#Exclude_files_from_scan_that_match_these_wildcard_patterns.)“,
      caching files can be excluded as well.
    - Make sure “[Enable HIGH SENSITIVITY scanning](https://docs.wordfence.com/en/Wordfence_options#Enable_HIGH_SENSITIVITY_scanning)”
      isn’t checked.
 * Thanks.
 *  Thread Starter [johnmccurdy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/johnmccurdy/)
 * (@johnmccurdy)
 * [8 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lfd-excessive-resource-usage/#post-9610005)
 * Thanks wfalaa and swedeman. For now, moving to PHP 7 has solved the problem. 
   I’ll be looking at your other suggestions too, as I have time.
    -  This reply was modified 8 years, 7 months ago by [johnmccurdy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/johnmccurdy/).

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

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 * 3 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [johnmccurdy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/johnmccurdy/)
 * Last activity: [8 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/lfd-excessive-resource-usage/#post-9610005)
 * Status: resolved