Tuning issue php4.0.6 / Apache 1.3.19 Linux/2.4 - Possible bug?

Hi, We are running a high-volume php4.0.6/Apache3.1.19 on Linux2.4x and are running into load problems. In httpd.conf we have <Directory / > Options FollowSymlinks AllowOverride None </Directory> ...however, doing an strace on a running httpd process shows up the following: lstat("/web", {st_mode=S_IFDIR|0555, st_size=4096, ...}) = 0 lstat("/web/apache", {st_mode=S_IFDIR|0755, st_size=4096, ...}) = 0 lstat("/web/apache/httpd", {st_mode=S_IFDIR|0755, st_size=4096, ...}) = 0 lstat("/web/apache/httpd/virtual", {st_mode=S_IFDIR|0755, st_size=4096, ...}) = 0 lstat("/web/apache/httpd/virtual/ads.online.ie", {st_mode=S_IFDIR|0755, st_size=4096, ...}) = 0 lstat("/web/apache/httpd/virtual/ads.online.ie/html", {st_mode=S_IFDIR|0755, st_size=4096, ...}) = 0lstat("/web/apache/httpd/virtual/ads.online.ie/html/acl.inc.php", {st_mode=S_IFREG|0444, st_size=5528, ...}) = 0 This is happening for every request. It did not happen with php3 AFAIR. Is this a PHP problem or does anyone have any clue? Thanks in adcvance. -Barry Flanagan