limit no. of virtual host in Apache

Anon

Dear all,

In our Apache server of Linux OS, there are about 100 virtual hosts of each given in the config file "httpd.conf" as follows

<VirtualHost 192.168.1.13>
DocumentRoot /home/htdocs/ivhost/public_html
ServerName ivhost.xxx.xxx
</VirtualHost>

Then, I try to open the corresponding websites. However, some can be opened whereas the other cannot. Note that the websites cannot be opened this time but perhaps can be opened the other time.
Why? Does the Apache Server only handle the limited no. of virtual host? Does it need more configuration setting? Please give us the effective way to handle 100 virual hosts in our server, thanks

Simon

smarlowe

You likely need to increase the maximum number of file handles on your machine.

If you're running a machine with sysctl on it, it's pretty easy.

First, do a 'sysctl -a | grep ^fs.' to list all the current kernel settings for the file system. The two we want are fs.file-max and (on older kernels) fs.inode-max. Note that on the 2.4 kernels I don't think you have to worry about fs.inode-max anymore, but I'm not sure.

To see if you're running out of file handles, run your apache webserver and take a look at what fs.file-nr and see if it's something like 4096 306 4096 I.e. where the first and last numbers are the same. If so, then likely you are running out of file handles.

edit /etc/sysctl.conf and enter two lines like this:

fs.file-max = 32768
fs.inode-max = 32768

Then do a sysctl -p to load the new values and let us know how it works.

Anon

Dear Scott Marlowe and all other interested,

Thanks for your reply, we follow your steps to deal with sysctl. However, when we enter the last command "sysctl -p", the following error comes out,

[root@ns1 /etc]# sysctl -p
error: unable to open preload file '/etc/sysctl.conf'
[root@ns1 /etc]# sysctl -p sysctl.conf
error: unable to open preload file 'sysctl.conf'
[root@ns1 /etc]# sysctl -p /etc/sysctl.conf
error: unable to open preload file '/etc/sysctl.conf'

Please give us advice, thanks a lot.

With regards,
Simon

smarlowe

are you logged in as root when you run this? Are you editing the sysctl.conf file in the /etc directory? What does 'locate sysctl.conf' say? If you get an error about an uninitialized database, type updatedb (as root, natch) to make locate work.

Anon

Dear Scott Marlowe,

I have updated and run the file when logged as root, But the error still exists. please give us advice, thanks

With regards,
Simon

Scott Marlowe wrote:

Anon

ear Scott Marlowe,

I attempt to install Redhat 7.1 linux OS, and there is a file "sysctl.conf" at the "/etc/" directory, but there is no such such file in Redhat 7.0. Do we need to add a package before running if we have to use Redhat 7.0. Which package should we install? Also, when we add the following commands,

fs.file-max = 32768
fs.inode-max = 32768

and run the "sysctl.conf" under Redhat 7.1, the error is made in the second command "fs.inode-max = 32768". Please give us the solution to the problems above, thanks.

Simon