Symptoms

Apache is used as Plesk Control Panel web server. When attempting to start Plesk CP using the Services management console the service fails to start. In Event viewer, System  the following records can be found regarding this problem:

Event Type: Error
Event Source:     Service Control Manager
Event Category:   None
Event ID:   7024
Date:       9/28/2006
Time:       1:46:54 PM
User:       N/A
Computer:   SWSOFT-4B1I8KAX
Description:The Plesk Control Panel Service service terminated with service-specific error 1 (0x1).For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

If you see this error you should check Application events.  Here are two possible situations:

1. You see error similar to:

Event Type: Error
Event Source:     Apache Service
Event Category:   None
Event ID:   3299
Date:       9/28/2006
Time:       1:46:53 PM
User:       N/A
Computer:   SWSOFT-4B1I8KAX
Description:The description for Event ID ( 3299 ) in Source ( Apache Service ) cannot be found. The local computer may not have the necessary registry information or message DLL files to display messages from a remote computer. You may be able to use the /AUXSOURCE= flag to retrieve this description; see Help and Support for details. The following information is part of the event: The Apache service named, , reported the following error: >>>, (20024)The given path misformatted or contained invalid characters: Invalid config file path C:\\Program files\\SWsoft\\Plesk\\admin\\conf\\httpd.conf,,,,,.

2. The error is similar to:

Event Type: Error
Event Source:     Apache Service
Event Category:   None
Event ID:   3299
Date:       9/28/2006
Time:       1:55:26 PM
User:       N/A
Computer:   SWSOFT-4B1I8KAX
Description:The description for Event ID ( 3299 ) in Source ( Apache Service ) cannot be found. The local computer may not have the necessary registry information or message DLL files to display messages from a remote computer. You may be able to use the /AUXSOURCE= flag to retrieve this description; see Help and Support for details. The following information is part of the event: The Apache service named, , reported the following error:>>>, Unable to open logs,,,,,.

Cause

CAUSE 1

This problem is caused by insufficient privileges to access configuration files of Apache. Configuration files for Plesk Apache are located in %plesk_dir%\admin\conf. Apache service runs on behalf of the  psaadm user. This user should have at least permission to `List folder contents` on all directories leaing to %plesk_dir% including the drive’s root. psaadm should have Read+Read&Execute+ List folder contents privileges to access the  %plesk_dir% folder.

CAUSE2

This problem is caused by  insufficient permissions to access the folder with Apache log files: %plesk_dir%admin\logs. Apache service us running on behalf of the  psaadm user. This user should have at least permission to `List folder contents` on all directories leading to %plesk_dir%, including the  drive’s root. The psaasmd user should have Read+Read&Execute+List folder contents permission to access  %plesk_dir% folder. The user must have Modify+Write permissions to access the logfiles in %plesk_dir%admin\logs.

Resolution

RESOLUTION 1

Necessary permissions to access all folders leading to %plesk_dir% need to be granted to the psaadm user 

RESOLUTION 2

You should grant necessary permissions for all folders leading to %plesk_dir% to user psaadm and set correct permission for  %plesk_dir%admin\logs.