apachectl script is broken under 10.6.5

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Level 1

5 points

apachectl script is broken under 10.6.5

It seems that since the 10.6.5 update, the apachectl script is no longer working. This script has the line:-

ULIMIT MAXFILES="ulimit -S -n `ulimit -H -n`"

Which boils down to trying to run "ulimit -S -n unlimited", which then results in the error:-

-bash: ulimit: open files: cannot modify limit: Invalid argument

This should not really be a problem, as using the work 'unlimited' should be accepted by the ulimit command. But it's not!

As a temporary fix I have modified my apachectl script to change the line to read as follows:-

ULIMIT MAXFILES="ulimit -S -n 10240"

I got that limit by trial and error as someone on #httpd had recommended 65000! I guess there are some people that will know how to make a sensible target for this figure.

MacPro (2008), Mac OS X (10.6.5), 8800GT

Posted on Nov 11, 2010 6:37 AM

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Answer 1

g@rgoyle Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 11, 2010 9:15 AM in response to g@rgoyle

I have checked on my MacBook Pro which I have not yet updated, and the ulimit commands are not present on the old version at all.

So, another fix would be to return the line to:-

ULIMIT MAXFILES=""

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Answer 2

Nov 12, 2010 4:47 AM in response to g@rgoyle

Thank you for posting this solution. I encountered the same issue and your way for fixing works pretty well.

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Answer 3

Nov 12, 2010 9:14 AM in response to g@rgoyle

I had the same issue ...

ULIMIT MAXFILES=""

seems to fix it

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Answer 4

k.panic

Level 3

605 points

Nov 12, 2010 9:19 AM in response to g@rgoyle

Didn't 10.6.5 update apache? I know it did for OS X Server, I would figure Client got the update as well. Might want to check the apache changelogs.

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Answer 5

Nov 12, 2010 9:29 AM in response to g@rgoyle

From http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4435:

Apache

CVE-ID: CVE-2010-0408, CVE-2010-0434

Available for: Mac OS X v10.6 through v10.6.4, Mac OS X Server v10.6 through v10.6.4

Impact: Multiple vulnerabilities in Apache 2.2.14

Description: Apache is updated to version 2.2.15 to address several vulnerabilities, the most serious of which may lead to a denial of service. Further information is available via the Apache web site at http://httpd.apache.org/

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Answer 6

m.a.paik

Level 1

0 points

Nov 12, 2010 9:36 AM in response to g@rgoyle

I thought I was going crazy. I just got my new laptop and I thought I did something wrong to it. So it was the software update. But can you explain the socket error?

/usr/sbin/apachectl: line 82: ulimit: open files: cannot modify limit: Invalid argument
(13)Permission denied: make_sock: could not bind to address [::]:80
(13)Permission denied: make_sock: could not bind to address 0.0.0.0:80
no listening sockets available, shutting down
Unable to open logs

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Answer 7

Nov 12, 2010 3:28 PM in response to m.a.paik

The socket errors are because you are trying to run apachectl as a non-root user. Running it as sudo should clear that issue up.

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Answer 8

m.a.paik

Level 1

0 points

Nov 16, 2010 10:07 AM in response to Matt Duffy1

That did help. That was an error on my part but the weird thing is I can run apachectl on the terminal but I can't run it on the System Preferences. It doesn't show the localhost IP. If I click on the checkbox, it just turns yellow and hangs. I had the same problem with my old PowerBook. Is it some permissions issue?

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Answer 9

iJohn78

Level 1

1 points

Dec 5, 2010 3:22 PM in response to g@rgoyle

Hi,

How to edit apachectl and change that?

Sorry, I'm a new mac user.

Thanks.

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Answer 10

Dec 5, 2010 4:01 PM in response to iJohn78

Launch Terminal.app from an administrator user, and issue the following commands:


$ cd /usr/sbin/
$ sudo cp apachectl apachectl_save
$ sudo nano apachectl

sudo will require you to enter your administrative user's password.

nano is probably the easiest command-line text editor, and includes on-screen help. Follow the on-screen instructions to find the above line, and change it per the instructions earlier in the thread.

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Answer 11

iJohn78

Level 1

1 points

Dec 5, 2010 4:14 PM in response to MrHoffman

Hi,

I did that and finally changed the script (the error message disappeared), but now nothing happens when I type sudo apachectl graceful and I still can't view anything in localhost.

Can you help me? I had the XAMP installed, but I've already uninstalled it.

Thank You.

Regards,

JB

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Answer 12

etresoft

Level 8

46,312 points

Dec 5, 2010 5:27 PM in response to iJohn78

iJohn78 wrote:
I did that and finally changed the script (the error message disappeared), but now nothing happens when I type sudo apachectl graceful and I still can't view anything in localhost.

You should probably start your own thread to discuss this issue. "sudo apachectl graceful" won't do anything except restart Apache.

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