Contao performance

[igolikov]

We have web site based on Contao CMS.

I ran load tests by LoadImpact and found that our web site goes down after 50 simultaneous users.
I enabled and turned up mysql query caching, Apache mod_cache, PHP eAccelerator . After optimization site goes down after 110 simultaneous users.

Every page build run about 130-170 mysql queries (debug mode). mod_cache doesn’t work for new users (as I understand it caches pages for users that already visited web site).
Then, I have restored old website version based on Drupal, and ran test. 110 simultaneous users generated 25% system load. Contao is slower than Drupal in about 40-50 times.

As I understand Drupal caches pages and modules in core. Contao uses Apache mod_cache that caches pages by URL for users. So when new user comes to Contao site, cache doesn’t work and every page generates 130-170 queries to database. When it comes to Drupal it can get page from cache.

Is there any other way to boost Contao performance?

[tsarma]

Its interesting to know of the test you have performed. I don't know if you have found this or not, under website root there is setting for cache. This cache is not the Apache mod_cache, which you have pointed. So can you turn this on and perform the Test again.

[igolikov]

tsarma,

Its interesting to know of the test you have performed.

I used LoadImpact and Siege with default settings, only number of simultaneous user was changed.

I don't know if you have found this or not, under website root there is setting for cache. This cache is not the Apache mod_cache, which you have pointed. So can you turn this on and perform the Test again.

if you meant "Cache mode" in Settings, sure it was "Use the server and the browser cache".
Images, css,and javascript caching is on too.

if you meant something other - could you clarify?

[qrczak]

if you meant "Cache mode" in Settings

No, tsarma means "Set cache timeout" option in every page settings (including root page). And there can "Set a cache timeout value for the page and its subpages".

[igolikov]

qrczak,

For the website root it was set to "60 minutes". This setting should be inherited by all other pages.
I set cache timeout for home page and repeat tests - results is the same.

[tsarma]

I set cache timeout for home page and repeat tests - results is the same

Were you logged into BE during the test? If so Contao will render the pages new every time ignoring the cache settings !

[igolikov]

Were you logged into BE during the test? If so Contao will render the pages new every time ignoring the cache settings !

Yes I was logged in BE. But test results were not changed after I logged out.
Can any other logged user affect caching?

Is any information available about using Contao for high-loaded sites?

BTW when I open page in Firefox with Firebug extension - I see that when I load any page second time most elements are taken from cache.

[igolikov]

I've added debug output to index.php (FirePHP extension) and found out that cache is working, page outputs by $this->outputFromCache().

But anyway, I see a lot of sql queries in mysql query log when request page (cache lifetime is 3 hours).

Some sql request belongs to cron.php. I think that is not good to run it hon every page request (if page is requested 100 times per second for example).

[qrczak]

Some sql request belongs to cron.php. I think that is not good to run it hon every page request (if page is requested 100 times per second for example).

Remove it from your template:

[img]<?php echo $this->base; ?>cron.php[/img]

Most people and me use system cron instead this way. It's not only my opinion, see this: http://dev.contao.org/issues/486. And then try run again your tests.

[JimmyRittenborg]

Hi qrczak,

Could you share the real cron you'd setup for making this stupid cron.php unnessesary - because i've simply just removed it from the template, not even thinking of what that causes besides a better page speed performance of cause

[qrczak]

I don't exactly remember what time period I set in cron but I have these commands

wget -t 1 -O - http://www.domain.com/system/modules...Controller.php >& /dev/null
wget -t 1 -O - http://www.domain.com/cron.php >& /dev/null

First line you need when you has installed this module: http://www.contao.org/extension-list/vi ... 09.en.html