Sites are loading slow. Apache periodically is not responding

Julian Bonpland Mignaquy

Updated January 13, 2026 18:59

Plesk for Linux kb: technical ABT: Group A

Applicable to:

In /var/log/plesk-phpxx-fpm/error.log below warning can be found:

# grep "server reached max_children setting" /var/log/plesk-php70-fpm/error.log
WARNING: [pool example.com] server reached max_children setting (5), consider raising it
In Apache log /var/log/apache2/error.log below information can be found

# grep "server reached MaxRequestWorkers setting, consider raising the MaxRequestWorkers setting" /var/log/apache2/error.log
[mpm_prefork:error] [pid 2519] AH00161: server reached MaxRequestWorkers setting, consider raising the MaxRequestWorkers setting

Site uses Mysql and in MySQL log below errors can be found:

# grep "is marked as crashed and should be repaired" /var/log/mysql/error.log
[ERROR] /usr/sbin/mysqld: Table './mysql/user' is marked as crashed and should be repaired
[ERROR] /usr/sbin/mysqld: Table './somedb/table' is marked as crashed and should be repaired

Corrupted databases.

Restore databases from backup or try to repair database tables.