I installed apache version 1.3.26 woody using apt-get, but the server won't start. I type the command "apachectl start" and it says "httpd could not be started". In the apache error.log it says:

[alert] mod_unique_id: unable to gethostbyname("(none)")

Any clues? Thanks.

Your system hasn't been assigned a hostname yet. You must do that prior to starting Apache. Type

hostname your-hostname

and put your-hostname in /etc/hostname.

Here is what I get from /var/log/apache/error

mod_unique_id: unable to gethostbyname("node.tribalsage.com")

If i type hostname: node.tribalsage.com

Apache still wont start

Apache can't resolve the IP address that matches your host name.

You need to put at least this in your /etc/hosts:

127.0.0.1          localhost
aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd    hostname.domain.tld    hostname

_________________
/ Peter

Im sure that would have fixed it. But as soons as the DNS info propogated apache managed to start up.

Thanks =)

Check this out - httpd.apache.org/docs-2.0/dns-caveats - to avoid reliability problems (e.g. http server fails to start if DNS query times out during config file parsing) and possible DoS vulnerabilities with Apache.

Putting your own IP and host in /etc/hosts is the best way round this.

_________________
/ Peter