Just Lightning allows CGI to be used on all web sites. We even allow you to use *.cgi files in any directory on your server. CGI can be resource intensive however, and because a Virtual Server must be shared with other users, we must limit how much of the CPU can be used by any one account on a shared server. There are several reasons why Just Lightning has been forced to create its CGI Abuse policy for its virtual server users.

What does Just Lightning consider "CGI ABUSE"?

Any site whose CGI programs are using more than 1000 seconds of CPU per 24 hours.

Why does Just Lightning have this policy?

Server Speed and Fairness to others
A Virtual Server is shared. As such, there are many accounts per machine. In all fairness, Just Lightning cannot allow one or two clients to use all of the System resources on a shared machine and have all other clients on the machine suffer because of it. Excessive CPU usage by one or more clients causes extreme slowness in all areas: FTP, Telnet, Web Sites and more. If the CPU usage gets too far out of hand, all sites hosted on the machine will return Errors and not be accessible in any way.

What happens if I exceed the Limit?

All accounts that are found to have exceeded the 1000 seconds per 24 hour period limit will receive an email warning from our FixIt program. This warning will inform you that there is too much CGI running and it will provide options for reducing the usage or upgrading your server. If you do not reduce the usage within 24 hours of the email being sent, your CGI scripts will be disabled.