Check your php-log is it asking to raise children count? because your TOP shows there no load at all
well now I remember used to get that warning an email when i add some stages sites. but when I removed it it disappeared but now when i :
but today when I checked with
: sudo tail -n 50 /var/log/php-fpm83.log
came out with
[01-Nov-2025 13:30:49] WARNING: [pool admin] server reached max_children setting (10), consider raising it
[01-Nov-2025 14:19:23] WARNING: [pool admin] server reached max_children setting (10), consider raising it
[01-Nov-2025 16:26:09] WARNING: [pool admin] server reached max_children setting (10), consider raising it
[01-Nov-2025 18:36:27] WARNING: [pool admin] server reached max_children setting (10), consider raising it
As has been mentioned there can be many causes for performance issues, withought knowing more about your site, possibly what framework it is running, it is hard to give specific recomendations.
But, I have found that slow PHP sites are often related more to other factors than just throwing more PHP processes at the problem.
1) Needing more memory for the php process. Can be increased in most cases by creating a ".user.ini" in the root of the website (in public_html) and set a specific memory limit say "memory_limit = 512M", example if your running WordPress with WooCommerce I would make that at least 1024M, don't forget to also edit the WordPress config memory limit also (define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '512M')
I already have user.ini long time a go with enough researchers and added memory for front end and admin on wp-config.php as well.
2) Mysql table optimisation, add missing indexes, etc.. If you have a really large database then it would be a good idea to do some optimization of Mysql itself, a tool like MySQLTuner can help with this (
https://github.com/major/MySQLTuner-perl ), as with any tool, only use what it says to change as a guide, double check what it is suggesting.
would be nice to use it for sure.
4) Check your Swappiness, personally I set mine to 1, so swapping doesn't happen untill i'm almost OOM. If swapping is occuring it will slow things down.
5) If running WordPress watch out the number of plugins that you use, try to keep it to a minimum. Some visual editors can cause performance issues (ie: Elementor), also increase the PHP memory limit more if you are using one it can help. If your not using a cache plugin it would be a good idea (Surge is a basic one that works well).
I am using Litespeed Cache plugin
6) Almost forgot, if you have Resource Limits set for the user running the website, make sure they are high enough.
no resources restriction, all the site are as admin they have full access to resources
7.) Check your logfiles and server-status (if apache) for malicious bot visits. We had issues with bot attacks not identifying as bots, but also normal bots.
used command : tail -n 100 /var/log/httpd/access_log
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /wp-admin/maint/maint.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /classwithtostring.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /dropdown.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /moon.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /0x.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /moon.php?p= HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /autoload_classmap.php?p= HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /inputs.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /default.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /fm.php?p= HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /fm.php?fm=true HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /about.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /file.php? HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /alfa.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /buy.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /themes/twentytwentytwo/index.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /wp-admin/js/wp-conflg.php?p= HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /wp-admin/wp-conflg.php?p= HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /wp-admin/css/wp-conflg.php?p= HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /manager.php?p= HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /js/fm.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /item.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /plugins/Cache/footer.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:38 -0500] "GET /404.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /mail.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /wp-content/plugins/index.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /sx.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /wp-admin/maint/admin.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /article.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /alfa.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /1.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /403.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /link.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /byp.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /bak.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /ini.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /ws.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /wp-trackback.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /.well-known/index.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /wp-includes/certificates/plugins.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /wp-content/themes/seotheme/mar.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /wp-admin/network/plugins.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /wp-admin/about.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /gmo.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /wp-includes/ID3/about.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /css/index.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /wp-admin/includes/xmrlpc.php?p= HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /wp-includes/SimplePie/wp-login.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /wp-content/themes/about.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /filemanager/dialog.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /wp-admin/maint/index.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /wp-includes/Requests/Text/admin.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /wp-includes/customize/about.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /index/function.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /uploads/autoload_classmap.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /wp-includes/css/dist/preferences/wp-login.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:39 -0500] "GET /wp-includes/style-engine/about.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /.well-known/acme-challenge/mariju.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /about/function.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /wp-includes/theme-compat/chosen.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /admin/function.php HTTP/1.1" 404 481 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /.well-known/acme-challenge/index.php HTTP/1.1" 404 248 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /css/colors/blue/index.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /wp-content/plugins/pwnd/as.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /wp-admin/setup-config.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /wp-admin/user/about.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /wp-admin/js/index.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /wp-content/upgrade/about.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /wp-includes/assets/index.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /wp-content/radio.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /wp-includes/fonts/index.php?p= HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /.well-known/gecko-litespeed.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /.well-known/admin.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /wp-content/admin.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /wp-content/plugins/admin.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /wp-content/themes/twentytwentytwo/index.php?p= HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /.well-known/log.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /class.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /bless.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /wp-includes/js/codemirror/index.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /wp-includes/block-patterns/index.php HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /lock360.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /bge.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /ifm.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /thxt.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /kairolin.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
52.169.206.229 - - [01/Nov/2025:20:59:40 -0500] "GET /siln.php HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
94.74.191.2 - - [01/Nov/2025:21:00:13 -0500] "GET /cgi-bin/luci/;stok=/locale HTTP/1.1" 404 481 "-" "-"
45.157.54.29 - - [01/Nov/2025:21:02:03 -0500] "POST /xmlrpc.php HTTP/2.0" 404 138 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/127.0.0.0 Safari/537.36"
45.157.54.29 - - [01/Nov/2025:21:02:03 -0500] "POST /xmlrpc.php HTTP/2.0" 404 138 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/127.0.0.0 Safari/537.36"
2001:4ca0:108:42::24 - - [01/Nov/2025:21:02:22 -0500] "GET /robots.txt HTTP/2.0" 404 395 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/103.0.5060.134 Safari/537.36"
188.116.22.80 - - [01/Nov/2025:21:09:49 -0500] "GET / HTTP/1.1" 200 3334 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:140.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/140.0"
37.27.51.142 - - [01/Nov/2025:21:15:18 -0500] "GET /robots.txt HTTP/2.0" 404 395 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; SERankingBacklinksBot/1.0; +
https://seranking.com/backlinks-crawler)"
167.71.110.14 - - [01/Nov/2025:21:19:07 -0500] "SSTP_DUPLEX_POST /sra_{BA195980-CD49-458b-9E23-C84EE0ADCD75}/ HTTP/1.1" 400 3404 "-" "-"
34.229.46.27 - - [01/Nov/2025:21:26:46 -0500] "GET /robots.txt HTTP/2.0" 404 395 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_15_7) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/108.0.0.0 Safari/537.36"
78.153.140.50 - - [01/Nov/2025:21:26:59 -0500] "GET /.env HTTP/1.1" 403 3427 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/116.0.5845.140 Safari/537.36"
78.153.140.50 - - [01/Nov/2025:21:26:59 -0500] "POST / HTTP/1.1" 200 3386 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/116.0.5845.140 Safari/537.36"
64.227.97.195 - - [01/Nov/2025:21:28:12 -0500] "" 400 394 "-" "-"
18.205.127.11 - - [01/Nov/2025:21:29:02 -0500] "GET / HTTP/2.0" 200 169 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; Amazonbot/0.1; +
https://developer.amazon.com/support/amazonbot) Chrome/119.0.6045.214 Safari/537.36"
20.29.23.198 - - [01/Nov/2025:21:31:46 -0500] "GET /manager/html HTTP/1.1" 404 462 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 zgrab/0.x"