Apache won't start after LiteSpeed license expired

Symptoms

After the server's LiteSpeed license expires, Apache will not stay active, and you can find entries similar to the following in the system log.

Nov  9 15:02:39 ber systemd: lshttpd.service holdoff time over, scheduling restart.
Nov  9 15:02:39 ber lswsctrl: Sorry, your license key has expired!
Nov  9 15:02:39 ber lswsctrl: Sorry, your license key has expired!
Nov  9 15:02:39 ber lswsctrl: 2024-11-09 15:02:39.686474 [NOTICE] [T0] Memory size is: 196457496KB.
Nov  9 15:02:40 ber lswsctrl: 2024-11-09 15:02:40.060965 [ERROR] [T0] [LICENSE] License key operation failure: ERR LC.V: License has expired 1 days, you have to renew your license
Nov  9 15:02:40 ber lswsctrl: [FATAL] license problem, back to Apache!
Nov  9 15:02:41 ber lswsctrl: 2024-11-09 15:02:41.140188 [NOTICE] [T0] Switch back to Apache ...
Nov  9 15:02:41 ber lswsctrl: [ERROR] Failed to start litespeed!
Nov  9 15:02:41 ber lswsctrl: Detected cPanel WHM Environment

Description

When LiteSpeed's license expires, it automatically switches to Apache but leaves the cp_switch_ws.sh script running. This script attempts to switch to LiteSpeed if LiteSpeed is not running.

Procedure

1. Access the server's command line as the 'root' user via SSH or "Terminal" in WHM.
2. Stop the lshttpd service.

   systemctl stop lshttpd

3. Stop all instances of the cp_switch_ws.sh script.

   pkill -f /usr/local/lsws//admin/misc/cp_switch_ws.sh

4. Stop all instances of the restartsrv_httpd script.

   pkill -f /scripts/restartsrv_httpd

5. Restart Apache.

   /scripts/restartsrv_httpd