I have apache server on a VPS. Sometimes the cpu loads is skyrocketing (more than 15), while there are no many visitors to the website (invision board forum).
I checked the apache status, it shows a lot of
vps.mydomain.com OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
each on of these entries is eating part of CPU.
Apache version is latest 2.2.16. I read that it should be redirected. But I don't understand how and why should I redirect it than "prevent" it.
Best Answer
You shouldn't prevent it or redirect it, but basically it performs 2 tasks - it will close the worker down i.e. when apache sees a worker has reached MaxRequestsPerChild it will do the internal dummy connection - so increasing (or removing) MaxRequestsPerChild will lower the number your seeing.
It is also used to wake spare/sleeping workers - so adjusting Max/MinSpareServers will also reduce the number.
Oh and as its a VPS, i would be talking to the VPS company as it could simply be another tenant on that server is causing your load to rocket by hogging CPU or I/O
But yeah - don't block it, and don't try to redirect it ;)