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RishiBang

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Apache Crashes frequently

Hi,

We are using Apache web server(Apache 2.0.52) on Solaris 9 and 10 boxes and Adobe Coldfusion in business tier.

We are facing the problem of Apache being crashed regularly (bi weekly or every 3 weeks).

We have the Core dump error on all the occasions of crash.

Currently we are restarting apache even on production env as a work around  which is not an acceptable solution.


Can any one help on how to fix this issue.

Thanks,
Rishi

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arnold
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What is the cause of the crashes reported in the core dumps?
There are tools like adb, gdb etc. that you can use to analyze the coredumps to determine the cause i.e. memory leak, not enough resources available, access to an NFS mount that has a hard failure?  Too many or not enough child processies. etc.
If instead of restart you use the graceful or reload option does that alter the likelyhood of the crash?
What are the ulimit settings on the apache user (open files, memory/threads, etc.)?
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madunix

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RishiBang

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Hi arnold,
Sorry fo the delayed reply.
I have tried to use the gdb for analyzing the core dump, but it is availble only on unix platforms.
We are not allowed to install anyting on the Unix boxes in our platfom.
Pls let me know if any windows based tools are available for analyzing Apache Core dump.
I have attached the core dump file. If possbile try to open it with the tool you are  using.

Thanks,
Rishi




core.httpd.2075.txt
arnold,
Sorry I forgot to mention that the file attached in the previous reply is a .7z file since the UI has not accepted it I have renamed to .txt.
Thanks
Rishi
adb/mdb is usually available on the system and also can be used to analyze the core dump.

I do not have a way to analyze the coredump.

http://developers.sun.com/solaris/articles/manage_core_dump.html
You could use the tools referenced in the above article and post the text output.

mdb/pstack

If you knew approximately when apache is going to crash, you can use truss -f -p <pid of apache> to capture the event.
You mentioned a production environment which suggest that there is a test environment.  Do you have or can you get GDB on one of those?

Hi anold,

yes you are right we have test env but all are unix boxes and power broker audited.

Anything that needs to be installed on unix(except Websphere related) we have to go thru the unix team.

WAS admins are not allowed to do so.

That's why looking for any windows based Core dump analyzer since apache is available on windows as well.

Thanks
Rishi
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Thanks Arnold,
I greatly appreciate your detailed explanation.
Sure I will try to work on the possiblities you have mentioned and come back with some useful info to disucss further.
Regards,
Rishi

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can you check the followng:
look in /var/log any suspicious
do you have free drive space, but do all partitions have free space
are all the file systems OK? fsck
check Apache error log if contains hints
mem diagnostic.... could be a bad piece of RAM
check apache config
check mysql config it could memory setting bigger than your actual RAM (if you have mysql)
Apache service starts with no errors??

.....
The Info provided by the madunix and arnold is useful and easy to follow