Knowledge Base

Nginx/Apache are not running after server reboot on a Plesk server: service start operation timed out. Terminating

Nginx, Apache or other services do(es) not start automatically after a server reboot.
Service(s) can be started manually without issues:

# service nginx start
Starting nginx (via systemctl): [ OK ]
Apache service is in failed status:

# service httpd status
httpd.service - The Apache HTTP Server
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/httpd.service; enabled; vendor preset: disabled)
Drop-In: /usr/lib/systemd/system/httpd.service.d
L-limit_nofile.conf
Active: failed (Result: signal) since Thu 2017-07-22 13:44:27 CEST; 58s ago
Process: 55266 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/httpd $OPTIONS -DFOREGROUND (code=killed, signal=KILL)
Main PID: 55266 (code=killed, signal=KILL)
...
systemd[1]: Starting The Apache HTTP Server...
systemd[1]: httpd.service start operation timed out. Terminating .
systemd[1]: httpd.service stop-final-sigterm timed out. Killing.
The following can be found in journalctl:

# journalctl -u httpd.service -u nginx.service -b
systemd[1]: Starting Startup script for nginx service...
systemd[1]: Starting The Apache HTTP Server...
.....
systemd[1]: httpd.service start operation timed out. Terminating.
systemd[1]: nginx.service start-pre operation timed out. Terminating.

Cause

Not sufficient timeout value for starting nginx or/and Apache.

Resolution

Note: This article may require additional administrative knowledge to apply. If any help is required, contact the server’s administrator or hosting support.

Add/increase TimeoutStartSec value in the [Service] section of Nginx or/and Apache init scripts:

For CentOS/RedHat 7

Connect to the server using SSH.
Backup a required init script using the command like:

# cp -a /usr/lib/systemd/system/httpd.service{,.bak}

# cp -a /usr/lib/systemd/system/nginx.service{,.bak}
Open the init script with any text editor:
- For Apache: /usr/lib/systemd/system/httpd.service
- For nginx: /usr/lib/systemd/system/nginx.service
Increase value for TimeoutStartSec parameter:

[Service]
...
TimeoutStartSec=600

For Debian 8/Ubuntu 16

Connect to the server using SSH.
Backup a required init script using the command like:

# cp -a /usr/lib/systemd/system/apache2.service{,.bak}

# cp -a /usr/lib/systemd/system/nginx.service{,.bak}
Open the init script with any text editor:
- For Apache: /usr/lib/systemd/system/apache2.service
- For nginx: /usr/lib/systemd/system/nginx.service
Increase value for TimeoutStartSec parameter:

[Service]
...
TimeoutStartSec=600

Note: In case the apache2.service file does not exist, the TimeoutStartSec value should be set in the /lib/systemd/system/apache2.service.d/apache2-systemd.conf file

For Debian9/Ubuntu18

Connect to the server via SSH.
Backup the required init scripts with the commands:

# cp -a /lib/systemd/system/apache2.service{,.bak}
# cp -a /lib/systemd/system/nginx.service{,.bak}

Note: The exact files can be found using:

# systemctl status apache2.service | grep loaded
# systemctl status nginx.service | grep loaded
Open the init script with any text editor (for example vi):
For Apache: /lib/systemd/system/apache2.service
For nginx: /lib/systemd/system/nginx.service
Increase value for TimeoutStartSec parameter or set one if not set:

[Service]
...
TimeoutStartSec=600

Note: In case the apache2.service file does not exist, the TimeoutStartSec value should be set in the /lib/systemd/system/apache2.service.d/apache2-systemd.conf file