apachectl
Control the Apache HTTP Server
TLDR
Start the server
$ sudo apachectl start
Restart the server$ sudo apachectl restart
Stop the server$ sudo apachectl stop
Test configuration file validity$ apachectl configtest
Check server status (requires lynx browser)$ apachectl status
Reload configuration without dropping connections$ sudo apachectl graceful
Print full Apache configuration$ apachectl -S
SYNOPSIS
apachectl command
apachectl [httpd-argument]
DESCRIPTION
apachectl is a front end to the Apache HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server designed to help administrators manage the Apache daemon. It can operate in SysV init mode with simple commands or pass arguments directly to httpd.
PARAMETERS
start
Start the Apache daemonstop
Stop the Apache daemonrestart
Restart Apache; starts if not runninggraceful
Graceful restart without terminating active connectionsgraceful-stop
Graceful stop without aborting current connectionsconfigtest
Validate syntax in configuration filesstatus
Display brief operational status (requires lynx and mod_status)fullstatus
Display comprehensive status report-S
Print full Apache configuration (parsed vhosts)-t
Test configuration syntax-M
List loaded modules-h
Display help
CONFIGURATION
/etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf
Main configuration file on RHEL/CentOS/Fedora systems./etc/apache2/apache2.conf
Main configuration file on Debian/Ubuntu systems./etc/httpd/conf.d/
Directory for additional configuration files on RHEL-based systems./etc/apache2/sites-available/
Virtual host configuration files on Debian-based systems.
CAVEATS
The status and fullstatus commands require the lynx text browser and mod_status to be enabled.
HISTORY
Part of the Apache HTTP Server project, developed by the Apache Software Foundation since 1995.
SEE ALSO
apache2ctl(8), httpd(8)
