Preventing server load issues

I woke up this this morning to one of my servers completely crippled, it had been down for over 6 hours, I could ping the server so I suspected a load issue, managing get access I was able to restart apache, eventually the load dropped and service was resumed. Similar issues happen every so often, i'm looking for ways I can prevent it in the future? Upon investigation, it seemed to happen when the server was doing backups.. I logged in and could see backups had started again, I could see pigz running which was using a lot of CPU... I then checked Apache logs and could see a single IP address spamming my server.. with the backups going on I don't think my server could cope, requests built up and eventually came to a stand still. I can tweak some settings in WHM to stop backups running when the server reaches a critical level, however, I don't understand what value it should be? The setting 'Extra CPUs for server load' says "a server with 4 physical CPUs and a value of 2 in this field will be considered "critical" in these cases once the load reaches 6" How does a server with 4 CPUs and a value of 2 in this field get to 6 as critical? I have a Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E3-1230 V2 in this server which apparently have 8 processors. So what setting should I have here? Finally, the apache log is very alarming.

Srv    PID    Acc    M    CPU    SS    Req    Conn    Child    Slot    Client    VHost    Request
0-131    13706    0/230/28926    _    19.50    0    5116    0.0    3.06    1121.13    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /about-example/ HTTP/1.1
1-131    13710    0/236/28638    W    15.87    0    0    0.0    4.22    1219.99    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET / HTTP/1.1
2-131    13714    0/212/28451    _    19.88    0    3591    0.0    4.26    1067.05    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /buzzradio/ HTTP/1.1
3-131    13717    0/267/29863    W    19.49    0    0    0.0    5.84    1201.29    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
4-131    25029    0/39/28805    W    3.60    3    0    0.0    0.55    1171.83    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /forum/search.php?s=baf0058932b335c064c70ce39ac4aa9b&do=fin
5-131    21053    0/58/29344    W    8.04    2    0    0.0    1.73    1189.93    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /north-east-rave-history/ HTTP/1.1
6-131    13699    0/258/29006    W    23.30    0    0    0.0    7.64    1140.04    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
7-131    13721    0/253/28850    W    20.55    0    0    0.0    4.75    1129.58    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
8-131    13702    0/247/29686    _    18.24    0    5535    0.0    5.30    1159.00    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /buzzradio/ HTTP/1.1
9-131    13727    0/234/28354    W    18.17    2    0    0.0    3.47    1093.17    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
10-131    13728    0/264/29779    W    20.42    0    0    0.0    5.93    1408.17    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET / HTTP/1.1
11-131    19007    0/121/28099    W    8.87    0    0    0.0    5.58    1192.03    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET / HTTP/1.1
12-131    13729    0/271/28237    W    18.65    0    0    0.0    4.55    1090.85    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
13-131    13701    0/244/27973    W    19.07    3    0    0.0    3.45    1197.74    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /forum/newreply.php?s=baf0058932b335c064c70ce39ac4aa9b&do=n
14-131    19008    0/106/27620    W    10.52    3    0    0.0    8.09    1226.08    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /about-example/ HTTP/1.1
15-131    13736    0/246/27016    _    20.18    0    6797    0.0    4.43    1212.37    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /news/ HTTP/1.1
16-131    19685    0/97/28122    _    9.38    0    6256    0.0    2.14    1228.59    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /about-example/ HTTP/1.1
17-131    13738    0/248/27062    W    23.45    0    0    0.0    4.61    1049.09    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET / HTTP/1.1
18-131    17456    0/141/26585    W    14.07    0    0    0.0    3.62    1001.17    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
19-131    17461    0/154/26871    W    13.23    0    0    0.0    3.79    1063.93    192.0.101.226    example2.example.com:80    HEAD / HTTP/1.1
20-131    19692    0/86/26166    W    9.73    4    0    0.0    1.76    997.02    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /buzzradio/ HTTP/1.1
21-131    19693    0/98/27253    W    9.12    1    0    0.0    1.66    1081.08    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
22-131    20333    0/85/26312    _    8.61    0    4784    0.0    1.41    1014.31    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /about-example/ HTTP/1.1
23-131    13960    0/212/26490    W    17.03    3    0    0.0    4.50    1046.23    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /forum/search.php?s=baf0058932b335c064c70ce39ac4aa9b&do=fin
24-131    21054    0/58/27129    W    7.87    0    0    0.0    1.46    1073.75    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /rave-audio/ HTTP/1.1
25-131    21055    0/65/25792    W    4.93    1    0    0.0    1.18    979.98    136.243.103.92    example.com:80    GET /forum/archive/index.php/t-118167.html HTTP/1.0
26-131    14071    0/248/26471    W    20.69    0    0    0.0    4.44    1046.66    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
27-131    25122    0/27/24868    _    5.45    0    4669    0.0    0.63    985.46    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /buzzradio/ HTTP/1.1
28-131    14180    0/217/25287    W    16.72    1    0    0.0    2.73    1009.00    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
29-131    25205    0/12/25274    W    2.33    0    0    0.0    0.38    985.59    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET / HTTP/1.1
30-131    18448    0/125/25067    W    9.56    0    0    0.0    2.05    950.51    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
31-131    14188    0/236/23993    _    17.26    0    5044    0.0    3.99    972.27    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /about-example/ HTTP/1.1
32-131    14189    0/208/24091    W    16.59    1    0    0.0    2.63    886.15    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
33-131    25206    0/32/23730    W    3.85    1    0    0.0    0.63    1070.29    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
34-131    14232    0/217/22845    W    19.78    1    0    0.0    4.38    914.23    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
35-131    25268    0/25/22675    W    3.97    0    0    0.0    0.59    854.91    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
36-131    13695    0/238/21395    W    16.26    3    0    0.0    4.08    866.57    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /forum/search.php?s=baf0058932b335c064c70ce39ac4aa9b&do=fin
37-131    18458    0/124/21023    W    11.15    0    0    0.0    2.31    913.00    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
38-131    25269    0/28/19490    W    2.62    1    0    0.0    0.49    799.64    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
39-131    16314    0/179/19516    W    13.97    3    0    0.0    3.13    759.67    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /forum/newreply.php?s=baf0058932b335c064c70ce39ac4aa9b&do=n
40-131    25270    0/26/17838    W    3.10    0    0    0.0    0.42    713.99    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
41-131    25271    0/22/18720    W    4.84    0    0    0.0    0.55    710.79    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /dj-mc-profiles/ HTTP/1.1
42-131    25325    0/28/14345    W    2.75    2    0    0.0    0.48    532.38    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /buzzradio/ HTTP/1.1
43-131    13696    0/247/11474    _    17.30    0    4767    0.0    4.23    465.22    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /about-example/ HTTP/1.1
44-131    18460    0/131/12460    W    12.81    0    0    0.0    2.82    483.97    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /events/ HTTP/1.1
45-131    25326    0/24/10122    _    3.90    0    5059    0.0    0.66    466.48    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /buzzradio/ HTTP/1.1
46-131    18470    0/125/9848    W    10.46    0    0    0.0    2.24    384.98    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
47-131    25327    0/25/8789    W    4.38    2    0    0.0    0.54    347.61    192.243.55.129    example.com:80    GET /forum/archive/index.php/t-161822.html?s=e9942ecd306adb907b
48-131    18471    0/129/8465    W    10.65    21    0    0.0    1.96    351.13    141.101.98.37    ovengleamers.ovengleam.com:80    POST /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php HTTP/1.1
49-131    25328    0/20/5843    W    3.60    0    0    0.0    0.51    234.20    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /forum/threads/208623-my-discogs-account/page3 HTTP/1.1
50-131    25329    0/28/8331    _    3.49    0    4356    0.0    0.60    303.42    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /about-example/ HTTP/1.1
51-131    18474    0/132/7261    W    12.15    3    0    0.0    2.43    297.77    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /buzzradio/ HTTP/1.1
52-131    25330    0/28/5964    W    3.65    3    0    0.0    0.55    239.72    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /buzzradio/ HTTP/1.1
53-131    18476    0/135/6419    W    8.39    3    0    0.0    2.92    311.35    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /buzzradio/ HTTP/1.1
54-131    25331    0/12/3543    W    1.60    0    0    0.0    0.34    152.79    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
55-131    25332    0/25/2336    W    3.59    2    0    0.0    0.58    93.92    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET / HTTP/1.1
56-131    25414    0/25/3085    W    3.27    2    0    0.0    0.60    117.97    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /rave-audio/ HTTP/1.1
57-131    25415    0/22/2395    W    3.35    2    0    0.0    0.40    105.49    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET / HTTP/1.1
58-131    25416    0/22/2559    W    2.62    3    0    0.0    0.41    101.48    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET / HTTP/1.1
59-131    25417    0/21/1861    W    3.22    0    0    0.0    0.48    100.67    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /forum/threads/194508-Signing-Off-The-Dole/page3 HTTP/1.1
60-131    25418    0/19/715    _    3.64    0    4828    0.0    0.55    29.95    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /about-example/ HTTP/1.1
61-131    25419    0/22/634    W    3.40    2    0    0.0    0.62    28.53    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET / HTTP/1.1
62-131    25420    0/26/476    W    3.41    0    0    0.0    0.52    22.54    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /events/ HTTP/1.1
63-131    25421    0/24/1437    W    2.88    0    0    0.0    0.52    72.53    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
64-131    25422    0/18/348    W    3.30    0    0    0.0    0.50    13.16    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
65-131    25423    0/23/888    W    3.60    1    0    0.0    0.37    76.33    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /rave-audio/ HTTP/1.1
66-131    25424    0/28/771    _    3.24    0    3822    0.0    0.51    43.67    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /about-example/ HTTP/1.1
67-131    25425    0/26/593    _    3.98    0    5055    0.0    0.68    31.36    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /about-example/ HTTP/1.1
68-131    25426    0/29/474    _    2.61    0    4355    0.0    0.49    28.65    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /about-example/ HTTP/1.1
69-131    25427    0/22/497    W    2.55    0    0    0.0    0.47    39.82    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
70-131    25428    0/23/815    W    3.26    2    0    0.0    0.46    42.22    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /forum/newreply.php?s=baf0058932b335c064c70ce39ac4aa9b&do=n
71-131    25429    0/25/535    W    3.15    1    0    0.0    0.57    32.52    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
72-131    25916    0/15/1027    W    2.70    0    0    0.0    0.34    36.15    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
73-131    25995    0/16/371    _    1.94    0    5486    0.0    0.37    22.28    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /events/ HTTP/1.1
74-131    25996    0/16/174    _    2.28    0    5002    0.0    0.41    8.45    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /about-example/ HTTP/1.1
75-131    26070    0/14/142    W    2.38    3    0    0.0    0.30    6.62    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /about-example/ HTTP/1.1
76-131    26071    0/14/1674    W    1.96    0    0    0.0    0.30    71.91    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET / HTTP/1.1
77-131    26072    0/14/314    W    3.50    1    0    0.0    0.38    19.00    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET / HTTP/1.1
78-131    26073    0/16/302    W    3.09    3    0    0.0    0.41    13.18    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /forum/threads/180667-The-Tune-Thread/page2 HTTP/1.1
79-131    26132    0/13/433    W    2.14    2    0    0.0    0.27    13.77    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /forum/search.php?s=baf0058932b335c064c70ce39ac4aa9b&do=fin
80-131    26133    0/15/156    W    2.50    3    0    0.0    0.35    13.82    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /forum/newreply.php?s=baf0058932b335c064c70ce39ac4aa9b&do=n
81-131    26134    0/13/137    W    3.02    1    0    0.0    0.35    3.58    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET / HTTP/1.1
82-131    26135    0/14/116    W    2.70    0    0    0.0    0.39    4.92    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET / HTTP/1.1
83-131    26136    0/15/238    W    1.85    2    0    0.0    0.28    6.41    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET / HTTP/1.1
84-131    26137    0/15/104    _    1.99    0    4838    0.0    0.36    3.20    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /about-example/ HTTP/1.1
85-131    26138    0/14/882    _    3.07    0    6130    0.0    0.36    41.23    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /about-example/ HTTP/1.1
86-131    26139    0/14/29    W    3.28    2    0    0.0    0.39    1.22    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /forum/newreply.php?s=baf0058932b335c064c70ce39ac4aa9b&do=n
87-131    26200    0/16/270    W    2.12    0    0    0.0    0.33    10.13    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
88-131    26202    0/14/518    W    1.51    0    0    0.0    0.30    17.31    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /forum/threads/148877-Anyone-give-me-the-link-for HTTP/1.1
89-131    26203    0/15/42    W    2.33    0    0    0.0    0.33    1.05    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET / HTTP/1.1
90-131    26204    0/13/1069    W    2.65    0    0    0.0    0.34    34.85    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET / HTTP/1.1
91-131    26205    1/13/88    C    1.87    1    5689    2.3    0.16    95.38    81.138.10.44    5.77.35.140:80    NULL
92-131    26206    0/10/190    W    2.31    0    0    0.0    0.24    6.42    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
93-131    26207    0/13/120    W    2.79    1    0    0.0    0.32    6.82    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /exclusive-mixes/ HTTP/1.1
94-131    26208    0/14/57    W    2.13    1    0    0.0    0.26    1.93    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
95-131    26209    0/12/35    _    1.91    0    3482    0.0    0.32    6.40    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /about-example/ HTTP/1.1
96-131    26210    0/10/260    W    1.98    3    0    0.0    0.23    7.63    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /forum/newreply.php?s=baf0058932b335c064c70ce39ac4aa9b&do=n
97-131    26211    1/16/360    W    2.73    1    0    9.2    0.40    14.22    86.180.105.43    example.com:80    GET /forum/clientscript/vbulletin_css/style00012l/metro_theme_p
98-131    26212    0/14/197    W    2.88    1    0    0.0    0.31    4.84    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /rave-audio/ HTTP/1.1
99-131    26213    0/15/1200    W    2.43    2    0    0.0    0.31    47.56    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /forum/newreply.php?s=baf0058932b335c064c70ce39ac4aa9b&do=n
100-131    26214    0/14/161    W    1.73    3    0    0.0    0.25    4.23    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /forum/newreply.php?s=baf0058932b335c064c70ce39ac4aa9b&do=n
101-131    26215    0/15/46    W    1.65    0    0    0.0    0.29    3.84    127.0.0.1    server.example3.com:80    GET /whm-server-status HTTP/1.1
102-131    26216    0/12/123    W    2.56    0    0    0.0    0.28    5.34    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
103-131    27142    0/5/41    W    0.49    2    0    0.0    0.11    1.03    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /forum/newreply.php?s=baf0058932b335c064c70ce39ac4aa9b&do=n
104-131    27189    0/4/145    W    0.81    3    0    0.0    0.10    2.78    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /about-example/ HTTP/1.1
105-131    27190    0/4/52    W    0.78    1    0    0.0    0.10    2.05    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET / HTTP/1.1
106-131    27199    0/5/114    W    0.99    0    0    0.0    0.15    1.30    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /forum/threads/185876-Tattoos/page7 HTTP/1.1
107-131    27200    0/4/50    _    0.38    0    5125    0.0    0.10    2.11    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /about-example/ HTTP/1.1
108-131    27201    0/3/13    W    0.24    0    0    0.0    0.08    1.42    188.143.xxx.xx    example.com:80    GET /advertising/ HTTP/1.1
109-131    27202    0/2/409    W    0.11    11    0    0.0    0.02    22.41    5.77.35.140    example2.example.com:80    POST /wp-cron.php?doing_wp_cron=1452910055.36900091171264648437
110-128    -    0/0/912    .    0.00    19735    0    0.0    0.00    38.00    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
111-128    -    0/0/23    .    0.13    19740    0    0.0    0.00    0.87    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
112-128    -    0/0/12    .    0.00    19756    0    0.0    0.00    0.24    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
113-128    -    0/0/33    .    0.26    19724    0    0.0    0.00    7.71    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
114-128    -    0/0/174    .    9.10    18230    0    0.0    0.00    5.13    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
115-128    -    0/0/180    .    8.75    18236    33    0.0    0.00    6.81    5.64.243.89      
116-128    -    0/0/33    .    0.40    19702    0    0.0    0.00    1.39    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
117-128    -    0/0/5    .    0.00    19755    0    0.0    0.00    0.01    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
118-128    -    0/0/34    .    0.13    19738    0    0.0    0.00    1.16    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
119-128    -    0/0/13    .    0.26    19722    0    0.0    0.00    0.20    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
120-128    -    0/0/29    .    0.40    19701    0    0.0    0.00    0.77    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
121-128    -    0/0/484    .    1.26    19733    0    0.0    0.00    13.28    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
122-128    -    0/0/49    .    0.00    19754    0    0.0    0.00    4.43    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
123-128    -    0/0/32    .    0.41    19671    0    0.0    0.00    91.16    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
124-128    -    0/0/23    .    0.13    19737    0    0.0    0.00    2.42    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
125-128    -    0/0/14    .    0.50    19710    0    0.0    0.00    0.43    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
126-128    -    0/0/80    .    2.24    19687    0    0.0    0.00    2.99    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
127-128    -    0/0/77    .    5.39    18985    0    0.0    0.00    1.96    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
128-128    -    0/0/379    .    0.28    19700    0    0.0    0.00    12.92    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
129-128    -    0/0/5    .    0.39    19721    0    0.0    0.00    0.01    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
130-128    -    0/0/120    .    5.79    19085    0    0.0    0.00    5.82    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
131-128    -    0/0/8    .    0.68    19689    0    0.0    0.00    0.01    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
132-128    -    0/0/9    .    0.39    19699    0    0.0    0.00    0.04    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
133-128    -    0/0/129    .    7.42    18652    0    0.0    0.00    4.91    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
134-128    -    0/0/2    .    0.00    19753    0    0.0    0.00    0.00    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
135-128    -    0/0/18    .    0.12    19736    0    0.0    0.00    0.07    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
136-128    -    0/0/4    .    0.39    19693    0    0.0    0.00    0.01    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
137-128    -    0/0/3    .    0.04    19713    0    0.0    0.00    0.03    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0
138-128    -    0/0/3    .    0.26    19720    0    0.0    0.00    0.01    ::1    server.example3.com:443    OPTIONS * HTTP/1.0

Probably hard to read, the thing to take away from this is the IP 188.143.xxx.xx is on there over 100 times.. I checked it out and it looks like it is from a forum spammer. I have blocked the IP but how can I stop this happening again from another IP... Surely there is a way to limit connections from a single IP.. or detect this sort of activity and block it? Should the server be able to handle this? Any help is appreciated. Thanks :)

dalem

January 16, 2016 15:45

csf has this feature and doss_deflate GitHub - jgmdev/ddos-deflate: Fork of DDoS Deflate with fixes, improvements and new features.

Forcerdj

January 16, 2016 19:22

Thanks, what is the setting in CSF? :)

syslint

January 17, 2016 05:42

There are a other options too. You can use nginx and limit the access from Ips' You can also use cloudlinux too. It is better to check the forum, it may be outdated to. That will be the reason behind this continuous spamming. You can tell your Forum admin to enable a captcha in is forms, that will prevent the boat spamming.

cPanelMichael

January 18, 2016 14:41

I can tweak some settings in WHM to stop backups running when the server reaches a critical level, however, I don't understand what value it should be? The setting 'Extra CPUs for server load' says "a server with 4 physical CPUs and a value of 2 in this field will be considered "critical" in these cases once the load reaches 6" How does a server with 4 CPUs and a value of 2 in this field get to 6 as critical? I have a Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E3-1230 V2 in this server which apparently have 8 processors. So what setting should I have here?

Hello :) It's the number you enter for this option, plus the number of processors on your system. If you enter "2", it's "2+8" if you have eight processors. Thus, the "Critical Load" is considered "10". Thank you.

Preventing server load issues

Comments

Didn't find what you were looking for?