Apache2 (Httpd) not working after update to High Sierra

apachehigh sierrahomebrew

I have an issue where Apache will not start after updating to High Sierra 10.13.1. There isn't anything showing in the error logs, but when I try to apachectl start nothing happens. If I run apachectl configtest I receive "Syntax OK

I have used commands like sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/org.apache.httpd.plist to no avail. Apache will not start. I can run sudo launchctl load -w /Library/LaunchDaemons/homebrew.mxcl.httpd.plist and that is not working either.

I took a look at the brew services list and httpd shows up in the list along with other process (mysql) but httpd's status is showing a yellow "started" instead of a green one.

I have tried many different things, and what I am finding is that if I look into the system.log file I find com.apple.xpc.launchctl[1] (homebrew.mxcl.httpd24[11780]): Service exited with abnormal code:1

If I run apachectl start, the command seems to work, but when I run the stop command I get "httpd (no pid file) not running.
I am also receiving the output of com.;apple.xpc.launchd[1] (org.apache.httpd): Please switch away from OnDemand to KeepAlive.

Is there something with High Sierra that is preventing Apache from running when it ran fine in Sierra?

Best Answer

In my opinion you hosed your various httpd launch daemons/start mechanisms by executing too many httpd related commands.

With homebrew and homebrew's apache-httpd installed and the default PATH you have six ways to start httpd.

Apple's Apache:

sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/org.apache.httpd.plist
sudo /usr/sbin/apachectl start

Homebrew's Apache:

sudo apachectl start
apachectl start
sudo brew services start httpd
brew services start httpd

If you've copied the file homebrew.mxcl.httpd.plist manually to either ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ or /Library/LaunchDaemons/ you have two more options to start it by loading them with (sudo) launchctl load ....

If you didn't modify the httpd config files or the apachectl scripts heavily the Apple branch will use Apple's httpd.conf file in /var and the DocumentRoot in the /Library folder.

The homebrew branch uses subfolders in /usr/local/.

Some launch methods won't work if you've bound the httpd ports to ports lower than 1024!

If you use (sudo) brew services ... to start httpd you have to use the proper (sudo) brew services list command to check the status:

If you start it as root then list it with root privs:

sudo brew services start httpd > sudo brew services list

or with user privs:

brew services start httpd > brew services list.

To solve your problem unload Apple's httpd:

sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/org.apache.httpd.plist
remove any manually installed homebrew.mxcl.httpd.plist
stop any homebrew httpd service with (sudo) brew services stop httpd

stop any httpd started by apachectl:

apachectl stop
sudo apachectl stop
sudo /usr/sbin/apachectl stop

Open Activity Monitor and check that no httpd process is running.
Reboot

Now - assuming you want to use homebrew's httpd on privileged ports - enter:

sudo brew services start httpd

Check the successful start with sudo brew services list.

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Looks like you have an extra conf file in the other directory. This file (+php-osx.conf) is trying to load PHP from /usr/local, rather than the system-supplied PHP. I know my PHP install works and am using the bog-standard Apple supplied Apache and PHP. Call to PHP module should be in the main httpd.conf file - this line is there, but commented out, by default in the Apple-supplied config:

LoadModule php5_module libexec/apache2/libphp5.so

And in other there should only be the single php5.conf file, contents:

<IfModule php5_module>
    AddType application/x-httpd-php .php
    AddType application/x-httpd-php-source .phps

    <IfModule dir_module>
        DirectoryIndex index.html index.php
    </IfModule>
</IfModule>

The Apple-provided Apache2 should include the default config files in /etc/apache2, labeled with a suffix such as .original, .pre-update, or ~previous. Same goes for the conf files in subdirectories.

MacOS – Upgrade to El Capitan has broken MySQL and Apache

MySQL-5.6.14 was installed with a StartUpItem which is necessary to automatically start MySQL while booting. StartUpItems are deprecated meanwhile (and probably wasn't migrated therefore) and launch daemons are used instead.

To get your MySQL back do the following:

Create a soft link:

sudo ln -s /usr/local/mysql-5.6.14-osx10.7-x86_64 /usr/local/mysql

Check the permissions:

ls -laO /usr/local

The command should reveal:

...
lrwxr-xr-x   1 root  wheel  -  27 13 Apr 00:04 mysql -> mysql-5.6.14-osx10.7-x86_64
drwxr-xr-x  17 root  wheel  - 578 13 Apr 00:05 mysql-5.6.14-osx10.7-x86_64
...

Create the file /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.oracle.oss.mysql.mysqld.plist with the following content:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>Label</key>             <string>com.oracle.oss.mysql.mysqld</string>
    <key>ProcessType</key>       <string>Interactive</string>
    <key>Disabled</key>          <false/>
    <key>RunAtLoad</key>         <true/>
    <key>KeepAlive</key>         <true/>
    <key>SessionCreate</key>     <true/>
    <key>LaunchOnlyOnce</key>    <false/>
    <key>UserName</key>          <string>_mysql</string>
    <key>GroupName</key>         <string>_mysql</string>
    <key>ExitTimeOut</key>       <integer>600</integer>
    <key>Program</key>           <string>/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld</string>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
        <array>
            <string>/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld</string>
            <string>--user=_mysql</string>
            <string>--basedir=/usr/local/mysql</string>
            <string>--datadir=/usr/local/mysql/data</string>
            <string>--plugin-dir=/usr/local/mysql/lib/plugin</string>
            <string>--log-error=/usr/local/mysql/data/mysqld.local.err</string>
            <string>--pid-file=/usr/local/mysql/data/mysqld.local.pid</string>
            <string>--port=3307</string>
        </array>
    <key>WorkingDirectory</key>  <string>/usr/local/mysql</string>
</dict>
</plist>

The file needs a trailing empty line/new line.

You may replace --port=3307 by --port=3306 depending on your previous configuration.

Change the permissions of the file:

sudo chown root:wheel /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.oracle.oss.mysql.mysqld.plist
sudo chmod 644 /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.oracle.oss.mysql.mysqld.plist

Load the launch daemon with

sudo launchctl load -w /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.oracle.oss.mysql.mysqld.plist

I strongly recommend to update to a newer version of MySQL.

Apache errors:

The error

AH00526: Syntax error on line 183 of /private/etc/apache2/httpd.conf:
Invalid command 'Order', perhaps misspelled or defined by a module not included in the server configuration

is related with the old Apache config (10.9) file you are using:

    <Directory />
        Options FollowSymLinks
        AllowOverride None
        Order deny,allow
        Deny from all
    </Directory>

In the new Apache config file (10.11) the section looks like this:

    <Directory />
        AllowOverride none
        Require all denied
    </Directory>

I recommend to setup Apache with a 2.4 (included in 10.11) config file.

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