Recurring Debian Apache Installation Failure

I've long since given up with apachectl. It doesn't seem to work on debian stable and

it isn't worth fixing.

Use the rc script /etc/init.d/apache.

Do you have a hostname set? I've found that apache will crash in debian if no hostname is set.

echo server1.example.com > /etc/hostname
/bin/hostname -F /etc/hostname

You will need to reboot the linode after doing this.

That works! I rebooted and when I ssh'd in it gave me my domain name. Apache works too!! Now one last pointer: do you know what file I update and/or what needs to be done to it so my DNS updates with Zoneedit correctly? Thanks man!!

@invalin:

Okay, I'n not a total newbie with Debian or Apache but a bit rusty 8-) When I have downloaded apache with apt-get, when I run apachectl start apache always fails (and there is no other apache process running), suggestions on how to change this? Thanks!

Glad you've fixed it. Anybody else reading this, note that this can also be due to a bug in mod_php - apache refuses to start yet it doesn't report any errors.

@invalin:

Now one last pointer: do you know what file I update and/or what needs to be done to it so my DNS updates with Zoneedit correctly? Thanks man!!

Since teh IPs are static, you only need to edit your ZoneEdit settings once. You shouldn't need to update them after that.

Look here for details on how to setup ZoneEdit:

http://www.linode.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=834