I need to recompile a server with Linux Redhat and Apache. I have no experience with compiling. On the page at http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/user/view/cs_msg/76 , someone gives the following guide:

The easiest way is to go to your source directory and run the
following:

./config.status --enable-module=usertrack

The config.status is a script written by the last run of
configure, and has all the options of when it was run. It will
re-run configure with all your initial options, and add any
command line arguments.

When that completes, do

make
make install
/path/to/apachectl stop
/path/to/apachectl start

Note, using a graceful or a restart to apachectl would cause a
core since you'll have a new executable.


Do you agree with this guide?

How long does it take to compile?

Is there anything else I should know, such as risks or concerns?

Greetings:

1. Backup.

2. Prior to doing a make install, I would do

apachectl stop

Then "make install"

Then "apachectl startssl" or "apachectl start" (ssl depends on if you have mod ssl set up).

The book is off base by having the install before the stop and start. The install replaces "apachectl, httpd," and othe Apache binaries.

I've seen too many times when you then go to stop the Apache daemon in memory with a new apachectl file that it bombs.

Futhermore, depending on where you got your server, there may not be a config.status etc.

So you should backup your system, and check out the structure of things prior to changing anything.

Thank you.

http://httpd.apache.org/docs/install.html