Error rebuilding httpd configuration: undefined symbol: ap_set_content_type_ex

Symptoms

Apache will not start and an error similar to the following can be seen when attempting to rebuild the Apache configuration.

# The “/usr/sbin/httpd -DSSL -t -f /etc/apache2/conf/httpd.conf.work.437b55ee.cfgcheck -C Include "/etc/apache2/conf.modules.d/*.conf"” command (process 32022) reported error number 1 when it ended.
httpd: Syntax error in -C/-c directive: Syntax error on line 2 of /etc/apache2/conf.modules.d/005_mod_cgid.conf: Cannot load modules/mod_cgid.so into server: /etc/apache2/modules/mod_cgid.so: undefined symbol: ap_set_content_type_ex

Cause

The issue occurs when /etc/apache2/logs exists as a folder instead of a symlink to /var/log/apache2/logs.

Resolution

1. Access the server's command line as the 'root' user via SSH or Terminal in WHM.

2. Move the /etc/apache2/logs folder under /var.

   # mv /etc/apache2/logs /var/log/apache2/logs

3. Create a symlink under /etc to the logs folder under /var.

   # ln -s /var/log/apache2/logs /etc/apache2/logs

4. Reinstall Apache.

   • CentOS 7, CloudLinux 7

     # yum reinstall ea-apache24

   • AlmaLinux 8/9, CloudLinux 8/9, Rocky Linux 8/9

     # dnf reinstall ea-apache24

   • Ubuntu

     # apt install --reinstall ea-apache24