SUPPORT

MAIL LIST

For comments, questions, bug-reports, announcements, etc., send mail to modperl@perl.apache.org.

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All CVS commit messages goes to the modperl-cvs@perl.apache.org list. Embperl CVS messages goes to embperl-cvs@perl.apache.org.

MAIL LIST ARCHIVES

There are several modperl list archives, choose your favorite:

http://perl.apache.org/maillist/modperl.html#Searchable_Archives

REPORTING PROBLEMS

HOMEWORK

Make sure you've done your homework before reporting a problem. Check the mail archive, read cgi_to_mod_perl.pod, the guide, the FAQ and other pod documents in the distribution.

HOW

When debugging, always start httpd with the -X switch so only one process is started.

Always check the error_log.

WHERE

Please send mail to modperl@perl.apache.org

WHAT

Always include this information:

Output of perl -V

Version of mod_perl

Version of apache

Options given to mod_perl's Makefile.PL

Server configuration details

Relevant sections of your ErrorLog (make test's is: t/logs/error_log)

If 'make test' fails, the output of 'make test TEST_VERBOSE=1'

Depending on the nature of your problem, you may also be asked:

-Does 'make test' pass 100%?

-Does your script still work under CGI?

-Do you have a *small* test script that illustrates the problem?

-Can you get a backtrace (if httpd is dumping core)?

CORE DUMPS

If you get a core dump, please send a backtrace if possible. Before you try, build mod_perl with perl Makefile.PL PERL_DEBUG=1 which will: -add `-g' to EXTRA_CFLAGS -turn on PERL_TRACE -set PERL_DESTRUCT_LEVEL=2 (additional checks during Perl cleanup) -link against libperld if it exists

Here's how to get a backtrace:

% cd mod_perl-x.xx
% touch t/conf/srm.conf
% gdb ../apache_x.xx/src/httpd
(gdb) run -X -f `pwd`/t/conf/httpd.conf -d `pwd`/t
[now make request that causes core dump]
(gdb) bt

You can also attach to an already running process like so:

% gdb httpd <process id number>

This attach approach is helpful when debugging a "spinning" process. You can also get a Perl stacktrace of a "spinning" process by install a $SIG{USR1} handler in your code, like so:

$SIG{USR1} = \&Carp::confess

While the process is spinning, send it a USR1 signal:

% kill -USR1 <process id number>

Sometimes gdb can make heads or tails of the core file, try this:

% gdb -core core

or

% gdb httpd core

If the dump is happening in libperl a -DDEBUGGING enabled libperl would help show us what's really happening.

Go to your Perl source tree:

% rm *.[oa]
% make LIBPERL=libperld.a
% cp libperld.a $Config{archlibexp}/CORE

$Config{archlibexp} is:

% perl -V:archlibexp

Rebuild httpd/mod_perl with PERL_DEBUG=1, let's see a new backtrace.

If you get a segfault but no core file gets dumped and you cannot reproduce the segfault on will, you have to make sure that your environment is set to allow a core file to be dumped. Change the script that starts the server to do (in bash):

ulimit -c unlimited

before the code that starts the server. Alternatively you can execute this command from the shell and then start the server from the same shell. Now you should be able to get the core dumped.

Of course the directory the server is running in (usually as defined by ServerRoot) should be writable as well.

SPINNING PROCESSES

If a process is spinning (seemingly stuck in an endless loop, eating up all cpu), you can use gdb to find which Perl code is causing the spin:

% gdb httpd <pid of spinning process> (gdb) where (gdb) source mod_perl-x.xx/.gdbinit (gdb) curinfo