I've followed the directions at http://library.linode.com/lamp-guides/u ... 0.04-lucid through "Install and Configure the Apache Web Server".

But, when I go to start apache2 using "/etc/init.d/apache2 start," the follow is displayed:

* Starting web server apache2
...fail!

What could be the issue here?

I just uninstall apache2 using "apt-get purge apache2". Then I installed it again. Something that might be useful, this showed up during the install:


Setting up apache2-mpm-worker (2.2.14-5ubuntu8.4) ...
* Starting web server apache2
...fail!
invoke-rc.d: initscript apache2, action "start" failed.

Is there any relevant information in /var/log/apache2/error.log or similar?

Yes, I finally figured to check the error.log file. The issue was with a virtual host file that I setup incorrectly.

I deleted it and disabled the site... things are working now.


Thanks!

This is likely an issue with your virtual hosts configuration file.
Most likely under /etc/apache2/sites-available/example.com if you followed the linode tutorial.
Check that everything is correct in the file. I had this issue where I had ~/public/logs/ in the config file but only had a directory ~/public/log/

Not the most helpful error when you just get [fail] ...

Or you could read the last post and discover that the issue was fixed.

@ktown

Let me guess, you always played a cleric in your AD&D games right?

//way to resurrect a year old thread//

_________________
Either provide enough details for people to help, or sit back and listen to the crickets chirp.
Security thru obscurity is a myth - and really really annoying.

Funky virtualhost debug command:

sudo apachectl -t -D DUMP_VHOSTS

PS didn't realise this was an old thread, sorry.