apache2 won't start, no error given

mikecrowe · 05-02-2005, 04:25 PM

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

Artanicus · 05-02-2005, 04:34 PM

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?

mikecrowe · 05-02-2005, 04:38 PM

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

Artanicus · 05-02-2005, 04:41 PM

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.

zeos · 05-02-2005, 08:55 PM

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...

mikecrowe · 05-02-2005, 08:59 PM

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

mikecrowe · 05-02-2005, 09:03 PM

Checked. No stale PID file.

zeos · 05-02-2005, 09:10 PM

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...

mikecrowe · 05-02-2005, 09:17 PM

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)                           = ?

zeos · 05-02-2005, 09:28 PM

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 .....

mrhatken · 05-04-2005, 11:50 PM

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.

pehden · 09-19-2010, 03:48 PM

Just happened after a reboot!

pehden · 09-19-2010, 04:46 PM

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.