Apache configuration test doesn't pass or fail. Nothing happens.

[Webble]

I have apache installed on a Linux server. When I run the command for status, or the flag to check the configuration, (-t), it takes me to a new prompt with no output. I'm logged in as root. When I run the configuration check command (with the full path, command, and flag) on other Apache servers, I get "Syntax ok" as the output. Or sometimes I get an error (if there is a problem with a configuration file). In this instance, I get nothing when I check the configuration of apache. I just get a new command prompt. When I try to start apache, nothing happens as well. No error either. I just go to a new line. What is wrong?

[atreyu]

That sounds quite strange. What is your Linux distro/version?

How did you install apache?

What is the exact command you are running, and are you running it as root?

If it is 'httpd -t' that you are using, do this right after it and see what it says:

echo $?

[Webble]

OS is CentOS. I'm not sure how apache was installed.

Here are the exact commands that do nothing for me:

/etc/init.d/httpd status
/etc/init.d/httpd configtest
/etc/init.d/httpd restart

I'll try your suggestion.

[Webble]

That sounds quite strange. What is your Linux distro/version?

How did you install apache?

What is the exact command you are running, and are you running it as root?

If it is 'httpd -t' that you are using, do this right after it and see what it says:

echo $?

The problem was that a configuration file existed, but it was 0 bytes. I have no idea how it became an empty, zero byte file. But once I corrected it, the problem went away. I wouldn't have thought the behavior that I observed was possible.

[atreyu]

glad you got it sorted. honestly, there are so many permutations of things that can go wrong, you can never plan for it all!