Hi,

I am re-building my web server from scratch. Originally, I installed Mandrake 10.0, Apache, PHP, ... using the installation GUI. If the lights went out because of a storm or something , once the lights came back on all I had to do was push the power button and I would have a fully funcional web server again.

Well, the version of Apache and PHP that came on the Mandrake CDs is now old and I am re-building my server. I installed Mandrake from the CDs, but I left Apache and PHP to install later via downloaded source code.

After installed, they work great. Just like I expected. But if I power down/power up my server, Apache doesn't start automatically. I have to type something of the sort:I understand what that command line does, but why isn't httpd a service that automatically starts when all other things are initiated at bootup?

I also understand you can create a cron job that runs certain command lines at start up. Can someone give me some pointers on that?

Thanks,
ian

Every (well, most) distros have different ways of doing this. If you are looking for a command line option .... you need to add this to the correct RC directory. Check the /etc/init.d/ folder for any apache program, this is your startup script ... if you do find one in there, you should be able to go to your /etc/rc.d/ (like) folder and create a symbolic link to the script.

EG: ln -s /etc/init.d/apachectrl /etc/rc.d/S99apache

This will/should start apache for you on boot...if there wasn't a startup script in there, you can check if you have an rc.local on your machine....I am pretty sure that is in /etc. Inside of this file, add the command, 'apachectl start' your system will run the command on boot.

If this doesn't help ... google this: "Mandrake XX rc scripts" XX being your version of mandrake you are running.

Hope this was a little insight.

** not httpd is also the service name for apache **

Greetings
the 'chkconfig' command is used to start programs at startup. THe command you would want would be 'chkconfig --level 345 httpd on'
Keep in mind that '--level' and it's subsequent 345 are telling the service to start on runlevels 3, 4 and 5. You may need to change this for your use.

I tried the chkconfig command-line tool because its man page says it is a "comman-line tool for maintaining the /etc/rc[0-6].d directory hierarchy". That's what I need!

I typed in what guitarman suggested and it gave me the following error:As guitarman suggested, I might have to change the options for my use. I tried substituting httpd for apachectl but nothing. I know apachectl is in my PATH because I've tested it before.

I'm going to try shaynesweeney's suggestion, but does anybody have suggestions on how to use the chkconfig command?

Thanks,
ian