Mac OS X: running a service? (specifically apachectl in another location)

Question

I'm trying to run an alternate install of apache httpd (don't ask) on my Mac. I can do it but it only runs as long as I'm logged in, and I keep having to type

sudo /opt/local/apache2/bin/apachectl -k start

and was wondering if there was a way to setup a service on my Mac so I don't have to keep doing this.

Answer 1

The best option is to use launchd the built in replacement for cron, init and xinetd. To do so you need to create an XML document (specifically a .plist) to define what you want to do. A program called Lingon provides an excellent GUI for doing this and the installation as well.

You can save the following file as com.example.apache2.plist

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>Disabled</key>
    <true/>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>com.example.apache2</string>
    <key>OnDemand</key>
    <false/>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
    	<string>/opt/local/bin/apache2/bin/apachectl</string>
    	<string>-k</string>
    	<string>start</string>
    </array>
</dict>
</plist>

You then want to install this .plist within /Library/LaunchDaemons because you want this to run when the computer starts up (as a service). You can do this by copying the file to /Library/LaunchDaemons (User Daemons in Lingon) and running the command sudo launchctl load -w /Library/LauchDaemons/com.example.apache2.plist. Then whenever the computer is started up, the command is run. Of note, Launch Daemons in /Library are run as root so you don't need the sudo.

For more information on launchd, check out the man page, the man page for launchd.plist, Getting Started with launchd, or you can search here on Super User as there are several questions already about launchd.

Answer 2

The correct way to do this would be through launchd.

http://developer.apple.com/macosx/launchd.html