httpd: bad user name apache

Question

on centos when I enter

service httpd start or restart

server gives

Starting httpd: httpd: bad user name apache
                                                           [FAILED]

I tried to add apache user and group, reinstalled httpd so many times but it did not worked either.

Solution

Run config test

[root@9001 conf_0.d]# /etc/init.d/httpd configtest
Syntax OK

Check what users and group set in httpd.conf

User apache
Group apache

Disable SELinux if its enabled.

Comments

[Admin]

when you tried to create apache user were you able to create it? or that failed too?

[Admin]

I can create the user. Also I checked it from /etc/passwd and /etc/group files

[Denis]

Try creating it from init. cd /etc/init.d; sudo ./httpd start A bit of googling revealed that a lot of people have problems with it overriding the config settings with environment variables.

[Admin]

I tried this too but it gives the same error :( I googled this error and non of the solutions helped me. I changed file permissions, config file etc :/

[Admin]

if no solution helps, uninstall and install it again. If still fails, try to build it on your own (not install via yum,.. but build from source)

[Admin]

This may be what you are looking for: drjohnstechtalk.com/blog/2012/03/…

[Admin]

I reinstall via yum so many times. I'll try building from source. thanks.

[Fr0zenFyr]

Darn!! I can't believe that I made a mistake in group name called it Www-data instead of www-data... hope this check helps someone...

[Admin]

but when I reboot server I have to disable SELinux again. what should I do for this problem ?

[Admin]

Disable permanently selinux edit /etc/sysconfig/selinux SELINUX=disabled

[Euli]

Imo, disabling SELinux is not a good advice. At least explain, why SELinux could cause the problem.