A Warning About cPanel's Easy::Apache

[Shazam]

Attention VPS and Dedicated Clients:

Beginning with cPanel's WHM 11.11.0 cPanel 11.15.0 release, there's a new feature for compiling Apache, known as Easy::Apache. Its main capability is easy compiling of Apache for your server, with support for all updates including 2.2.6, but you need to think about the potential consequences carefully.

First of all, HostICan is still testing Easy::Apache, and most of our deployments so far have been to test servers, so we can examine the advantages and disadvantages. This means that we are not responsible if your site is messed up as a result of performing this Apache upgrade. In other words, if something goes wrong, it's up to you to fix the problem!

At HostICan, our systems use, for the most part, Apache 1.3.7. While not the latest release, it has proven to be stable and predictable. We pride ourselves in near-perfect uptime, and we are therefore very cautious when it comes to serious software upgrades.

Despite this warning, I realize some of you are highly experienced at Linux server management and are perfectly capable of handling the problems yourself (probably better than I can ).

So here are a few things to consider if you choose to upgrade to an Apache 2 release courtesy of cPanel's Easy::Apache:

1. Back up your sites and databases. Take a Web server application update as seriously as you take an update to Mac OS X or Windows. If something goes wrong, you want to be able to roll back to a previous version of your site.

2. When you access the Easy::Apache feature, under Apache Update, you will be taken through a basic setup assistant before the build and installation process begins. Use the Basic settings, which will provide all the Apache modules you need for your server.

3. PHP 5.2.4 is the latest and greatest and recommended, but you will also want to make sure that it is fully compatible with your database-driven blogs and forums.

4. When the actual Apache build process begins, expect your site to be offline for about 10 minutes, so this is best done early in the morning. You will also want to devote an extra hour or two for possible troubleshooting.

5. Once the upgrade is finished, Apache will restart and, if all goes well, your sites should be back up and running.

In my own early-morning encounter, my WordPress 2.3 blog had some issues, where the full page wouldn't display after the upgrade. I traced it to an unaccountable change in permissions for some plug-ins, config and setup files. I encountered a related issue with a MyBB forum, where a settings file was was changed from 777 to 644, which meant that needed adjustments couldn't be written to the file. It was an easy fix, once I realized what happened, but it's just one of the things you might want to consider before you upgrade.

October 13 Update: Another issue is that the standard PHP 5.2.4 install of cPanel fails to include the GD module, which, among other things, is required for Captcha support, required for security on various blogs and forum systems. So you'll also need to consult the Advanced configuration to make sure the components you need are installed.

Those of you who have discovered problems and found solutions should post them in our various open forums, perhaps in the programming area.

Again, nothing is predictable with such a major upgrade, so we urge caution, since, as we said, you're on your own for now.

[Shazam]

I just wanted to mention that I moved this to give you folks a chance to comment and perhaps amplify my experiences with this Apache upgrade in cPanel.

[Scott]

Hurray! Haha...

Anyway, my question I had for this topic, is Easy::Apache going to be an automatic upgrade for cPanel? If it is, I should be worried. I hope this won't be an automatic thing...

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Scott

Hurray! Haha...

Anyway, my question I had for this topic, is Easy::Apache going to be an automatic upgrade for cPanel? If it is, I should be worried. I hope this won't be an automatic thing...

No, it still requires that you build Apache. You don't have to do anything if you don't want to.

Some of us, however, are crazy enough to test the wisdom of the Gods ;D

[Scott]

Awesome. That's all I needed to know.

[marcOpolo]

Originally Posted by Shazam

No, it still requires that you build Apache. You don't have to do anything if you don't want to.

Some of us, however, are crazy enough to test the wisdom of the Gods ;D

You mean me? ...er, crazy >> nfscd
Does the new Apache automatically apply the Easy Apache, like it or not?
What would happen if you installed it on a VPS?