high "Load Average"

[Stefan Parvu]

> 
> CPU     %user     %nice   %system   %iowait    %steal     %idle
> all      7.92     0.00    7.75      46.93      0.00       37.40
> all      8.43     0.00    8.31      48.12      0.00       35.14
> all      8.03     0.00    8.01      45.84      0.00       38.12
> all      8.39     0.00    8.43      46.48      0.00       36.69
> all      9.89     0.11    7.32      54.83      0.00       27.85
> all      9.09     0.00    8.87      49.75      0.00       32.30
> all      8.96     0.00    9.09      48.89      0.00       33.06
> all     10.02     0.00    9.60      51.23      0.00       29.15
>

as already indicated your php-cgi processes are waiting IO completion
from other sources: database backend, other backends if you use. This
might indicate why you have a high percentage of iowait. You gotta
drill down and find whats going on: 

 1. webserver - database connection: 
     check network link, speed, full duplex
     check TCP/sec: connection ESTABLISHED to understand whats your load
     check TCP/IP settings on Linux, both machines: web and db servers
    
    Give a try to netstat: http://blogs.sun.com/timc/entry/nicstat_the_solaris_and_linux
    it really gives you a picture about your network utilisation.

 2. vmstat: would as well give you an overall picture of cpu/mem 
    what does it say on your box: vmstat 1 10 ? Run this as well
    on your DB server.
     check free column
     check si, so
 
 
stefan