Keep or remove nscd?

Question

Updated question:

Assuming the setup of a "minimal" web server (apache2, php) - e.g. with the least features possible - I would like to know if the nscd is truly required for optimal functioning of the machine.

Answer 1

I don't know what kind of "minimal server" you are intending to build, so I can't give you a good answer.
I can, however, offer you these guidelines.

The name service caching daemon is a caching daemon. The data it caches is available by other means.

How useful a cache is depends on:

• how often you query what it holds
• how often what it holds is out of date (and how much that matters)
• how often you cannot connect to the main data-source (and how much that matters)
• how much more efficient (memory, time, load) it is to access the cache than the primary data-source