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apache2 won't start, no error given

Hi folks,

I'm pretty well versed in using apache, so this is really bugging me. I've googled and searched here. Can't find anything.

Using Suse 9.1, and have installed as typical web server (apache2 2.0.49, php4 4.3.4, mysql 4.0.18). Everything seemed to install fine.

However, when I do a /etc/init.d/apache2 start, it fails.
Further, /var/log/apache2 has 3 files, error and access files are 0 length. rcapache2.out only contains "Syntax OK".

Even if I manually enter:
/usr/sbin/httpd2-prefork -f /etc/apache2/httpd.conf
(which is the cmdline that is executed from /etc/init.d/apache2), exits with error code 0 and no httpd daemon. Same with apache2ctl.

How can I get some diagnostics to see what is wrong? I can't even get an exit code to debug.

TIA
Mike

I had a similar situation when my error_log had bloated to over 3 gigs in size. If the logs are of 0 size, id say theres definately something wrong with them. Perhaps try deleting them, and let apache re-create?

Did that. Recreates with 0 size. Brand new installation, so it should be straight forward.

a possible method to take a closer look to what might fail, would be to monitor 'acctail' while attempting to start apache. Its not standar software, but a helluve nice tool. It monitors all exiting processes and their exit status.

Any chance you've got a pid file hanging around that didn't get cleaned up? I've had similar things happen on my servers.....

check /var/run/httpd2.pid

If it's there and you're certain (seems so lol) it's not running, delete it and attempt a start...

To the earlier recommendation to try acctail (great program!):

Code:

root@CRMServer acctail-1.3 # acctail

acctail v1.3, (C) folkert@vanheusden.com



COMMAND          FLGS UID    .GID      EXIT    UTIME  STIME  ETIME  MEM

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

root@CRMServer acctail-1.3 # yast

root@CRMServer acctail-1.3 # man screen

Reformatting screen(1), please wait...

root@CRMServer acctail-1.3 # screen

find_mpm        U    root    .root    0        0.00  70.00  170.00  2544

apache2          FU  root    .root    0        0.00  20.00  200.00  2544

which            U    root    .root    0        0.00  20.00  50.00  1368

perl            U    root    .root    0        0.00  70.00  100.00  3276

ln              U    root    .root    0        0.00  20.00  40.00  1604

find_mpm        U    root    .root    0      10.00  60.00  150.00  2544

get_includes    FU  root    .root    0        0.00  10.00  180.00  2544

get_includes    U    root    .root    0        0.00  60.00  280.00  2544

apache2          FU  root    .root    0        0.00    0.00  20.00  2544

httpd2-prefork  U    root    .root    0      60.00  160.00  280.00  4104

apache2          U    root    .root    0      20.00  160.00 1290.00  2544

ln              U    root    .root    0        0.00  20.00  40.00  1604

find_mpm        U    root    .root    0        0.00  60.00  150.00  2544

apache2          FU  root    .root    0        0.00  20.00  190.00  2544

which            U    root    .root    0        0.00  30.00  50.00  1368

perl            U    root    .root    0        0.00  80.00  100.00  3276

apache2          U    root    .root    768    20.00  100.00  520.00  2544

stty            U    root    .root    0        0.00  30.00  40.00  1612

apache2          FU  root    .root    0        0.00  10.00  10.00  2544

apache2          FU  root    .root    0        0.00  10.00  20.00  2544

apache2          FU  root    .root    0        0.00  10.00  20.00  2544

ln              U    root    .root    0        0.00  20.00  40.00  1604

find_mpm        U    root    .root    0        0.00  60.00  120.00  2544

apache2          FU  root    .root    0        0.00  10.00  150.00  2544

which            U    root    .root    0        0.00  20.00  50.00  1368

perl            U    root    .root    0        0.00  90.00  130.00  3276

ln              U    root    .root    0        0.00  30.00  50.00  1604

find_mpm        U    root    .root    0        0.00  60.00  160.00  2544

get_includes    FU  root    .root    0        0.00  10.00  180.00  2544

get_includes    U    root    .root    0        0.00  60.00  300.00  2544

apache2          FU  root    .root    0        0.00  10.00  20.00  2544

httpd2-prefork  U    root    .root    0      40.00  140.00  260.00  4104

httpd2-prefork  U    root    .root    0      100.00  200.00  400.00  7280

httpd2-prefork  FUS  root    .root    11    500.00  710.00 1660.00  61352

startproc        U    root    .root    1792    0.00  60.00 2230.00  1388

stty            U    root    .root    0        0.00  30.00  60.00  1612

grep            U    root    .root    256      0.00  30.00  80.00  1692

apache2          U    root    .root    1792    40.00  210.00 3660.00  2544

apache2          U    root    .root    1792    20.00  170.00 6930.00  2540

ifconfig        U    root    .root    0        0.00  30.00  90.00  1400

grep            U    root    .root    0        0.00  30.00  100.00  1460

sh              U    root    .root    0        0.00  60.00  190.00  2316

Checked. No stale PID file.

you could always try strace to see if it gives you any indication of when in the process it's dying....

Code:

strace httpd2-prefork -f /etc/apache2/httpd.conf

or simply run httpd2-prefork through an strace without specifying the conf file...

Wow. I learned something today. Here's the tail of strace:

Code:

lstat64("/etc/apache2/conf.d", {st_mode=S_IFDIR|0755, st_size=120, ...}) = 0

open("/etc/apache2/conf.d", O_RDONLY|O_NONBLOCK|O_LARGEFILE|O_DIRECTORY) = 8

fstat64(8, {st_mode=S_IFDIR|0755, st_size=120, ...}) = 0

fcntl64(8, F_SETFD, FD_CLOEXEC)        = 0

getdents(8, /* 4 entries */, 4096)      = 88

getdents(8, /* 0 entries */, 4096)      = 0

close(8)                                = 0

lstat64("/etc/apache2/conf.d/apache2-manual.conf", {st_mode=S_IFREG|0644, st_size=905, ...}) = 0

open("/etc/apache2/conf.d/apache2-manual.conf", O_RDONLY) = 8

fstat64(8, {st_mode=S_IFREG|0644, st_size=905, ...}) = 0

read(8, "#\n# This configuration file belo"..., 4096) = 905

read(8, "", 4096)                      = 0

close(8)                                = 0

read(5, "", 4096)                      = 0

close(5)                                = 0

lstat64("/etc/apache2/sysconfig.d/include.conf", {st_mode=S_IFREG|0644, st_size=150, ...}) = 0

open("/etc/apache2/sysconfig.d/include.conf", O_RDONLY) = 5

fstat64(5, {st_mode=S_IFREG|0644, st_size=150, ...}) = 0

read(5, "#\n# This file is created at apac"..., 4096) = 150

read(5, "", 4096)                      = 0

close(5)                                = 0

lstat64("/etc/apache2/vhosts.d", {st_mode=S_IFDIR|0755, st_size=120, ...}) = 0

open("/etc/apache2/vhosts.d", O_RDONLY|O_NONBLOCK|O_LARGEFILE|O_DIRECTORY) = 5

fstat64(5, {st_mode=S_IFDIR|0755, st_size=120, ...}) = 0

fcntl64(5, F_SETFD, FD_CLOEXEC)        = 0

getdents(5, /* 4 entries */, 4096)      = 92

getdents(5, /* 0 entries */, 4096)      = 0

close(5)                                = 0

read(4, "", 4096)                      = 0

close(4)                                = 0

chdir("/")                              = 0

clone(child_stack=0, flags=CLONE_CHILD_CLEARTID|CLONE_CHILD_SETTID|SIGCHLD, child_tidptr=0x402fa908) = 17569

exit_group(0)                          = ?

Nothing telling there, I just compared the trace output to one of my suse box's (default apache install) and got identical output with a fully running process resulting....Appears as thought it's starting, then dying after sucessful start...

Have you made any changes to the default config's? if so, what?
I'll think on it some more and post back if anything comes to me .....

Howdy All,

Any progress on this problem?

We're seeing the same thing with Apache2 on Solaris ...

Thanks in advance for any information.

Cheers,
Ashley.

Having this issue with ubuntu

Just happened after a reboot!

OK WTF Happened I dont know but im guessing there was an update the wiped the apache2 exec file and renamed it apache2.1 I removed apache2 and renamed apache2.1 to apache2 and its up again.