IBM Support

IBM HTTP Server administrative control cannot be started as a non-root or
non-administrative user

Troubleshooting


Problem

You cannot start the IBM HTTP Server Version 7.0 administrative control as a non-root or non-administrative user from the Administrative Console for IBM WebSphere Application Server. As a non-root or non-administrative user, you cannot start the IBM HTTP Server administration server using the []adminctl start[] command. After adding a user, using the []setupadm[] command, it is still not possible to start the IBM HTTP Server administration server.

Diagnosing The Problem

After you attempt to start the IBM HTTP Server administrative control, an error message, which is similar to the following text, exists in the log files::
mod_ibm_adm: The IBM HTTP Server administration server can only be started by root. Unable to open logs

Resolving The Problem

You must start the IBM HTTP Server Version 7.0 administrative control as a root or administrative user from the server on which IBM HTTP Server is installed. Log into the machine as the root or administrative user and run the adminctl start command from the IHS_HOME/bin directory. For example:
/opt/IBM/HTTPServer/bin/adminctl start

As of Version 7.0.0.5, you can start the IBM HTTP Server administrative server as the same non-root user that a non-root IBM HTTP Server is started as. This option is not configured automatically. The web server changes to a configurable, unprivileged user ID after it starts, which enables a separation of privileges for what is required at startup and what is required for runtime processing. Read the following topic for more information about starting IBM HTTP Server as a non-root user: http://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/wsbroker/redirect?version=compass&product=ihs-dist&topic=tihs_setupadmscript

Related Information

[{"Product":{"code":"SSEQTP","label":"WebSphere Application Server"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU053","label":"Cloud & Data Platform"},"Component":"IBM HTTP Server","Platform":[{"code":"PF033","label":"Windows"}],"Version":"7.0","Edition":"Network Deployment","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB45","label":"Automation"}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
06 June 2019

UID

swg21318269