Chapter 5. Web Server Control, Monitoring, Upgrade, and Maintenance

Starting the Server in Multi-Process Mode
Starting the Server in Single-Process Mode
Using kill to Control Processes
Using apachectl to Control the Server
Validating Server Configuration
Setuid root Startup Scripts
Preparing for Machine Reboot
Upgrading a Live Server
Three-Tier Server Scheme: Development, Staging, and Production
Web Server Monitoring
Server Maintenance Chores
References

This chapter covers everything about administering a running mod_perl server. First, we will explain techniques for starting, restarting, and shutting down the server. As with Perl, there's more than one way to do it, and each technique has different implications for the server itself and the code it runs. A few widely used techniques for operating a server are presented. You may choose to use one of the suggested techniques or develop your own.

Later in the chapter, we give instructions on upgrading and disabling scripts on a live server, using a three-tier scheme, and monitoring and maintaining a web server.

5.1. Starting the Server in Multi-Process Mode

To start Apache manually, just run its executable. For example, on our machine, a mod_perl-enabled Apache executable is located at /home/httpd/httpd_perl/httpd_perl. So to start it, we simply execute:

panic% /home/httpd/httpd_perl/bin/httpd_perl

This executable accepts a number of optional arguments. To find out what they are (without starting the server), use the -h argument:

panic% /home/httpd/httpd_perl/bin/httpd_perl -h

The most interesting arguments will be covered in the following sections. Any other arguments will be introduced as needed.

Chapter 5. Web Server Control, Monitoring, Upgrade, and Maintenance

Contents:

5.1. Starting the Server in Multi-Process Mode