---
name: "apache-sslctl"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "apache-ssl"
version: "1.3.34-4.1+etch1"
release: "Debian 4.0 (Etch)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/apache-sslctl"
---

# apache-sslctl(8)

Apache HTTP server control interface

## NAME

apachectl - Apache HTTP server control interface

## SYNOPSIS

**apachectl** *command* \[...\]

## DESCRIPTION

**apachectl** is a front end to the Apache HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)  server.  It is designed to help the administrator control the  functioning of the Apache  **apache-ssl** daemon.

**NOTE:** If your Apache installation uses non-standard paths, you will need to  edit the  **apachectl** script to set the appropriate paths to your PID file and your  **apache-ssl** binary.  See the comments in the script for details.

The  **apachectl** script returns a 0 exit value on success, and \>0 if an error  occurs.  For more details, view the comments in the script.

Full documentation for Apache is available at  **http://httpd.apache.org/**

## OPTIONS

The *command* can be any one or more of the following options:

- **start**

  Start the Apache daemon.  Gives an error if it is already running.

- **stop**

  Stops the Apache daemon.

- **restart**

  Restarts the Apache daemon by sending it a SIGHUP.  If the daemon is not running, it is started. This command automatically checks the configuration files via  **configtest** before initiating the restart to make sure Apache doesn't die.

- **fullstatus**

  Displays a full status report from  **mod\_status.** For this to work, you need to have mod\_status enabled on your server  and a text-based browser such as *lynx* available on your system.  The URL used to access the status report can be set by editing the **STATUSURL** variable in the script.

- **status**

  Displays a brief status report.  Similar to the fullstatus option, except that the list of requests currently being served is omitted.

- **graceful**

  Gracefully restarts the Apache daemon by sending it a SIGUSR1.  If the daemon is not running, it is started.  This differs from a normal restart in that currently open connections are not aborted. A side effect is that old log files will not be closed immediately. This means that if used in a log rotation script, a substantial delay may be necessary to ensure that the old log files are closed before processing them. This command automatically checks the configuration files via  **configtest** before initiating the restart to make sure Apache doesn't die.

- **configtest**

  Run a configuration file syntax test. It parses the configuration files and either reports  **Syntax Ok** or detailed information about the particular syntax error.

- **help**

  Displays a short help message.

## SEE ALSO

**[apache-ssl(8)](/apache-ssl/8.md)**