Understand how Hostinger manages sustained high CPU usage on your VPS and how to monitor or reset these limits.
Introduction
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) executes instructions and performs calculations for your server’s operating system and applications. While temporary surges in processing power are normal during intensive tasks, sustained high usage can impact overall service stability. This article explains the automated protection measures Hostinger uses for VPS plans and how you can manage them.
Hostinger VPS CPU usage thresholds
To ensure stability for all customers, Hostinger internal systems monitor for sustained resource consumption:
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Detection: Internal systems identify if a VPS sustains high CPU usage for longer than 180 minutes.
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Security assessment: Once this 180-minute limit is exceeded, the system considers the VPS potentially compromised.
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Automatic throttling: As a protection measure, the CPU capacity of the VPS is decreased automatically by 25% per hour.
Managing and resetting CPU limits
You can monitor and manage your resources directly through the hPanel or Command Line Interface (CLI):
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Monitoring: Use the Server Usage section in your VPS dashboard to track real-time consumption.
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Resetting limits: You can remove the CPU limit once per week in the VPS dashboard. This allows you to test software and make configuration adjustments.
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Optimization insights: Use the Hostinger VPS AI Assistant to get specific recommendations for improving your server performance.
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Terminating processes: Use CLI tools like
toporhtopto stop problematic tasks:-
top: Press k, enter the process ID (PID), and send signal 15 for a graceful stop.
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htop: Navigate to the process, press F9, and select the signal type.
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Conclusion
Monitoring your CPU ensures your VPS remains responsive and performs well even under heavy workloads. If your server consistently reaches its limits after optimization and malware checks, it may indicate your project has outgrown your current hosting plan. In that case, you can consider upgrading your VPS.
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