Evaluation WordPress
From DreamHost
This information is outdated and may be inaccurate or no longer necessary.
We offer WordPress as a one-click install, and there is a reason for that. Right out of the box, WordPress is a highly efficient, easy-to-use blogging platform. However, just like any other piece of software, things happen and it can run out of control.
The first thing to do is check with any blog is if it's being spammed. It's the top reason why blogs go crazy on CPU usage. Check the comments on your blog. If you're seeing the same sort of posts as you see in your inbox from spammers, you'll need to install a plug-in.
Go to http://unknowngenius.com/blog/wordpress/spam-karma/ and follow the excellent directions on this page on how to install Spam Karma for WordPress. The comments at the end of the article indicate this really stops spammers cold, so it seems the best route to go. These instructions are for Spam Karma version 2. So if you have version 1, you'll need to upgrade the plug-in. If you've found a better plug-in, please let us know!
If spam isn't your problem, then perhaps the server is getting hit a lot with the need to render your pages from the database. Try installing a caching plugin.
If your move to an evaluation server was coupled with a notice about spam being sent from your account, there is a definite possibility that one of WordPress' default files was used by a hacker to send spam from your website. By default, WordPress installs a file called xmlrpc.php. This file is sometimes used for some administration tasks. If you do not know how to use it, or do not use it at all, you can safely remove the file. If you do use the file, please visit http://phpxmlrpc.sourceforge.net and make sure you have the latest version for each WordPress blog running under your account.
If you've tried one or both of the plug-ins but are still seeing a high load on the server from your account, then it could be that you have launched a fabulous blog that has outgrown shared hosting. At this point you may wish to consider a dedicated hosting package, which start at only $99 per month if you pre-pay for a year.
Handy Links!
http://wordpress.org - WordPress' website
http://dev.wp-plugins.org - WordPress plugins
http://phpxmlrpc.sourceforge.net/ - xmlrpc.php homepage
