1 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
2 <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
3 <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"><head><!--
4 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
5 This file is generated from xml source: DO NOT EDIT
6 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
7 --><title>Running Apache for Windows as a Service - Apache HTTP Server</title><link href="../style/css/manual.css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" type="text/css" title="Main stylesheet" /><link href="../style/css/manual-loose-100pc.css" rel="alternate stylesheet" media="all" type="text/css" title="No Sidebar - Default font size" /><link href="../style/css/manual-print.css" rel="stylesheet" media="print" type="text/css" /><link href="../images/favicon.ico" rel="shortcut icon" /></head><body id="manual-page"><div id="page-header"><p class="menu"><a href="../mod/">Modules</a> | <a href="../mod/directives.html">Directives</a> | <a href="../faq/">FAQ</a> | <a href="../glossary.html">Glossary</a> | <a href="../sitemap.html">Sitemap</a></p><p class="apache">Apache HTTP Server Version 2.0</p><img alt="" src="../images/feather.gif" /></div><div class="up"><a href="./"><img title="<-" alt="<-" src="../images/left.gif" /></a></div><div id="path"><a href="http://www.apache.org/">Apache</a> > <a href="http://httpd.apache.org/">HTTP Server</a> > <a href="http://httpd.apache.org/docs-project/">Documentation</a> > <a href="../">Version 2.0</a></div><div id="page-content"><div id="preamble"><h1>Running Apache for Windows as a Service</h1>
9 <p>Apache can be run as a service on Windows NT/2000. (There is
10 also some HIGHLY EXPERIMENTAL support for similar behavior on
11 <a href="#win95svc">Windows 95/98</a>, introduced with Apache
14 <p>Installing Apache as a service should only be done once you
15 can successfully run it in a console window. See <a href="windows.html">Using Apache with Microsoft Windows</a>
16 before you attempt to install or run Apache as a service.
17 Changes to the <code>httpd.conf</code> file should always be
18 followed by starting Apache as a console window. If this
19 succeeds, the service should succeed.</p>
21 <div class="note"><strong>Prior to version 1.3.13, the configuration was
22 <em>not tested</em> prior to performing the
23 installation</strong>, and a lack of service dependencies often
24 caused the console window to succeed, but the service would
25 still fail. See <a href="#service">below</a> if you are having
26 problems running a version of Apache prior to 1.3.13 to resolve
27 the issue. If you have this problem with version 1.3.13 or
28 greater, first try uninstalling (<code>-u</code>) and re-installing
29 (<code>-i</code>) the Apache service.</div>
31 <p>To start Apache as a service, you first need to install it
32 as a service. Multiple Apache services can be installed, each
33 with a different name and configuration. To install the default
34 Apache service named "Apache", run the "Install Apache as
35 Service (NT only)" option from the Start menu. Once this is
36 done you can start the "Apache" service by opening the Services
37 window (in the Control Panel), selecting Apache, then clicking
38 on Start. Apache will now be running, hidden in the background.
39 You can later stop Apache by clicking on Stop. As an
40 alternative to using the Services window, you can start and
41 stop the "Apache" service from the command line with</p>
43 <div class="example"><p><code>
44 NET START APACHE<br />
48 <p>See <a href="#signal">Controlling Apache as a Service</a>
49 for more information on installing and controlling Apache
52 <div class="note"><h3>Note</h3>
53 Apache, unlike many other Windows NT/2000 services,
54 logs any errors to its own error.log file in the logs folder
55 within the Apache server root folder. You will <em>not</em>
56 find Apache error details in the Windows NT Event
59 <p>After starting Apache as a service (or if you have trouble
60 starting it) you can test it using the same <a href="windows.html#cmdline">procedure</a> as for running in a
61 console window. Remember to use the command:</p>
63 <div class="example"><p><code>
64 apache -n "service name"
67 <p>to assure you are using the service's configuration.</p>
69 </div><div id="quickview"><ul id="toc"><li><img alt="" src="../images/down.gif" /> <a href="#service">Running Apache for Windows as a Service</a></li><li><img alt="" src="../images/down.gif" /> <a href="#depends">Important Note on service dependencies:</a></li><li><img alt="" src="../images/down.gif" /> <a href="#account">User Account for Apache Service to Run As (NT/2000)</a></li><li><img alt="" src="../images/down.gif" /> <a href="#trouble">Troubleshooting Apache for Windows as a Service</a></li><li><img alt="" src="../images/down.gif" /> <a href="#cmdline">Running Apache for Windows from the Command Line</a></li><li><img alt="" src="../images/down.gif" /> <a href="#signal">Controlling Apache as a Service</a></li><li><img alt="" src="../images/down.gif" /> <a href="#win95svc">HIGHLY EXPERIMENTAL Windows 95/98 Service</a></li></ul></div><div class="top"><a href="#page-header"><img alt="top" src="../images/up.gif" /></a></div><div class="section"><h2><a name="service" id="service">Running Apache for Windows as a Service</a></h2>
73 <div class="note"><strong>The <code>-n</code> option to specify a service
74 name is only available with Apache 1.3.7 and later.</strong>
75 Earlier versions of Apache only support the default service name
78 <p>You can install Apache as a Windows NT service as
81 <div class="example"><p><code>
82 apache -i -n "service name"
85 <p>To install a service to use a particular configuration,
86 specify the configuration file when the service is
89 <div class="example"><p><code>
90 apache -i -n "service name" -f "\my server\conf\my.conf"
93 <p>To remove an Apache service, use:</p>
95 <div class="example"><p><code>
96 apache -u -n "service name"
99 <p>The default "service name", if one is not specified, is
102 <p>Once a service is installed, you can use the <code>-n</code>
103 option, in conjunction with other options, to refer to a
104 service's configuration file. For example:</p>
106 <p>To test a service's configuration file:</p>
108 <div class="example"><p><code>
109 apache -n "service name" -t
112 <p>To start a console Apache using a service's configuration
115 <div class="example"><p><code>
116 apache -n "service name"
119 </div><div class="top"><a href="#page-header"><img alt="top" src="../images/up.gif" /></a></div><div class="section"><h2><a name="depends" id="depends">Important Note on service dependencies:</a></h2>
123 <p>Prior to Apache release 1.3.13, the dependencies required to
124 successfully start an installed service were not configured.
125 After installing a service using earlier versions of Apache,
126 you must follow these steps:</p>
128 <div class="example"><p><code>
130 Select Window - "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on Local Machine" from the menu <br />
131 Double-click to open the SYSTEM, then the CurrentControlSet keys <br />
132 Scroll down and click on the Apache servicename <br />
133 Select Edit - Add Value... from the menu <br />
134 Fill in the Add Value dialog with <br />
135 Value Name: DependOnGroup <br />
136 Data Type: REG_MULTI_SZ <br />
138 Leave the Multi-String Editor dialog empty and click OK <br />
139 Select Edit - Add Value... from the menu <br />
140 Fill in the Add Value dialog with <br />
141 Value Name: DependOnService <br />
142 Data Type: REG_MULTI_SZ <br />
144 Type the following list (one per line) in the Multi-String Editor dialog <br />
150 <p>If you are using COM or DCOM components from a third party
151 module, ISAPI, or other add-in scripting technologies such as
152 ActiveState Perl, you may also need to add the entry Rpcss to
153 the DependOnService list. To avoid exposing the TCP port 135
154 when it is unnecessary, Apache does not create that entry upon
155 installation. Follow the directions above to find or create the
156 DependOnService value, double click that value if it already
157 exists, and add the Rpcss entry to the list.</p>
159 </div><div class="top"><a href="#page-header"><img alt="top" src="../images/up.gif" /></a></div><div class="section"><h2><a name="account" id="account">User Account for Apache Service to Run As (NT/2000)</a></h2>
163 <p>When Apache is first installed as a service (e.g. with the
164 <code>-i</code> option) it will run as user "System" (the LocalSystem
165 account). There should be few issues if all resources for the
166 web server reside on the local system, but it has broad
167 security privileges to affect the local machine!</p>
169 <div class="note">LocalSystem is a very privileged account locally, so you
170 shouldn't run any shareware applications there. However, it
171 has no network privileges and cannot leave the machine via
172 any NT-secured mechanism, including file system, named pipes,
173 DCOM, or secure RPC.</div>
175 <p><strong>NEVER grant network privileges to the SYSTEM
176 account!</strong> Create a new user account instead, grant the
177 appropriate privileges to that user, and use the the "Log On
178 As:" option. Select the Start Menu -> Settings -> Control
179 Panel -> Services -> apache service ... and click the
180 "Startup" button to access this setting.</p>
182 <div class="note">A service that runs in the context of the LocalSystem account
183 inherits the security context of the SCM. It is not
184 associated with any logged-on user account and does not have
185 credentials (domain name, user name, and password) to be used
186 for verification.</div>
188 <p>The SYSTEM account has no privileges to the network, so
189 shared pages or a shared installation of Apache is invisible to
190 the service. If you intend to use <em>any</em> network
191 resources, the following steps should help:</p>
194 <li>Select Apache from the Control Panel's Service dialog and
197 <li>Verify that the service account is correct. You may wish
198 to create an account for your Apache services.</li>
200 <li>Retype the password and password confirmation.</li>
202 <li>Go to User Manager for Domains.</li>
204 <li>Click on Policies from the title bar menu, and select
207 <li>Select the option for Advanced User Rights.</li>
210 In the drop-down list, verify that the following rights
211 have been granted to the selected account:
214 <li>Act as part of the operating system</li>
216 <li>Back up files and directories</li>
218 <li>Log on as a service</li>
220 <li>Restore files and directories</li>
224 <li>Confirm that the selected account is a member of the
227 <li>Confirm the selected account has access to all
228 <code>document</code> and <code>script</code>
229 directories (minimally read and browse access).</li>
231 <li>Confirm the selected account has read/write/delete access
232 to the Apache <code>logs</code> directory!</li>
235 <p>If you allow the account to log in as a user, then you can
236 log in yourself and test that the account has the privileges to
237 execute the scripts, read the web pages, and that you can start
238 Apache in a console window. If this works, and you have
239 followed the steps above, Apache should execute as a service
240 with no problems.</p>
242 <div class="note"><strong>Error code 2186</strong> is a good indication
243 that you need to review the "Log On As" configuration, since
244 the server can't access a required network resource.</div>
246 </div><div class="top"><a href="#page-header"><img alt="top" src="../images/up.gif" /></a></div><div class="section"><h2><a name="trouble" id="trouble">Troubleshooting Apache for Windows as a Service</a></h2>
250 <p>When starting Apache as a service you may encounter an error
251 message from Windows service manager. For example if you try to
252 start Apache using the Services applet in Windows Control Panel
253 you may get the following message:</p>
255 <div class="example"><p><code>
256 Could not start the apache service on \\COMPUTER <br />
257 Error 1067; The process terminated unexpectedly.
260 <p>You will get this error if there is any problem starting
261 Apache. In order to see what is causing the problem you should
262 follow the instructions for <a href="windows.html#cmdline">Running Apache for Windows from the
263 Command Line</a>.</p>
265 <p>Also, Apache 1.3.13 now records startup errors in the
266 Application Event Log under Windows NT/2000, if Apache is run
267 as a service. Run the Event Viewer and select Log ...
268 Application to see these events.</p>
270 <div class="note"><strong>Check the Application Event Log with the Event
271 Viewer in case of any problems, even if no error message pops
272 up to warn you that an error occured.</strong></div>
274 </div><div class="top"><a href="#page-header"><img alt="top" src="../images/up.gif" /></a></div><div class="section"><h2><a name="cmdline" id="cmdline">Running Apache for Windows from the Command Line</a></h2>
278 <p>For details on controlling Apache service from the command
279 line, please refer to <a href="windows.html#cmdline">console
280 command line</a> section.</p>
282 </div><div class="top"><a href="#page-header"><img alt="top" src="../images/up.gif" /></a></div><div class="section"><h2><a name="signal" id="signal">Controlling Apache as a Service</a></h2>
286 <p>Multiple instances of Apache can be installed and run as
287 services. Signal an installed Apache service to start, restart,
288 or shutdown/stop as follows:</p>
290 <div class="example"><p><code>
291 apache -n "service name" -k start <br />
292 apache -n "service name" -k restart <br />
293 apache -n "service name" -k shutdown <br />
294 apache -n "service name" -k stop
297 <p>For the default "Apache" service, the <code>-n</code> Apache
298 option is still required, since the <code>-k</code> commands without
299 the <code>-n</code> option are directed at Apache running in a console
300 window. The quotes are only required if the service name contains spaces.</p>
302 <div class="note"><strong>Note the <code>-k stop</code> alias for the
303 <code>-k shutdown</code> command was introduced in Apache version
304 1.3.13.</strong> Earlier versions of Apache will only recognize the
305 <code>-k shutdown</code> option. Prior to 1.3.3, Apache did not
306 recognize <em>any</em> <code>-k</code> options at all!</div>
308 <p>In addition, you can use the native NT <code>NET</code> command
309 to start and stop Apache services as follows:</p>
311 <div class="example"><p><code>
312 NET START "service name" <br />
313 NET STOP "service name"
316 <p>Again, quotes are only required if the service name contains
319 </div><div class="top"><a href="#page-header"><img alt="top" src="../images/up.gif" /></a></div><div class="section"><h2><a name="win95svc" id="win95svc">HIGHLY EXPERIMENTAL Windows 95/98 Service</a></h2>
323 <div class="note"><strong>The service options for Windows 95 and 98 are
324 only available with Apache 1.3.13 and later.</strong> Earlier
325 versions of Apache only supported Apache in a console window
326 for Windows 95/98.</div>
328 <p>There is some support for Apache on Windows 95/98 to behave
329 in a similar manner as a service on Windows NT/2000. It is
330 <em>highly experimental</em>, if it works (at all) the Apache
331 Sofware Foundation will not attest to its reliability or
332 future support. Proceed at your own risk!</p>
334 <p>Once you have confirmed that Apache runs correctly at the <a href="windows.html#cmdline">Command Prompt</a> you can install,
335 control and uninstall it with the same commands as the Windows
338 <p>There are, however, significant differences that you should
341 <p>Apache will attempt to start and if successful it will run
342 in the background. If you run the command</p>
344 <div class="example"><p><code>
345 Apache -n "service name" -k start
348 <p>via a shortcut on your desktop, for example, then if the
349 service starts successfully a console window will flash up but
350 immediately disappears. If Apache detects any errors on startup
351 such as a incorrect entries in the <code>httpd.conf</code> file,
352 then the console window will remain visible. This will display
353 an error message which will be useful in tracking down the cause
356 <p>Windows 95/98 does not support <code>NET START</code> or
357 <code>NET STOP</code> commands so you must use Apache's Service
358 Control options at a command prompt. You may wish to set up a
359 shortcut for each of these commands so that you can just choose
360 it from the start menu or desktop to perform the required action.</p>
362 <p>Apache and Windows 95/98 offer no support for running the
363 Apache service as a specific user with network privileges. In
364 fact, Windows 95/98 offers no security on the local machine,
365 either. This is the simple reason that the Apache Software
366 Foundation never endorses the use of Windows 95/98 as a public
367 httpd server. These facilities exist only to assist the user in
368 developing web content and learning the Apache server, and
369 perhaps as a intranet server on a secured, private network.</p>
371 </div></div><div id="footer"><p class="apache">Maintained by the <a href="http://httpd.apache.org/docs-project/">Apache HTTP Server Documentation Project</a></p><p class="menu"><a href="../mod/">Modules</a> | <a href="../mod/directives.html">Directives</a> | <a href="../faq/">FAQ</a> | <a href="../glossary.html">Glossary</a> | <a href="../sitemap.html">Sitemap</a></p></div></body></html>