We just upgraded our server software for our StarAuto CMS product and we came across a new Apache restart issue with Plesk 10.4 after a new account is created. Our WHMCS installation was also upgraded to 5. By default, Plesk 10.4 does a hard restart after any account creation or modification action, but we can’t have the service be interrupted abruptly for a few moments when ever a new client website is setup, so we had to browse around and figure out a solution.
The solution is to add a record to the Plesk (psa) database on the server where Plesk is installed. First, log in to MySQL as root (admin) and switch to the psa database. Then run the following insert to enable graceful Apache restarts.
INSERT INTO misc VALUES ('restart_apache_gracefully', 'true');
By using this method, which is actually outlined in the Parallels knowledgebase, you no longer have to use the nasty work around that we used and explained in our previous post, “Integrating WHMCS 4.x with PLESK 10“, about getting around the hard Apache resets.
Our service runs on a DV server from MediaTemple and we change our admin account password frequently for security reasons, but the root password for MySQL doesn’t change automatically, so we had forgotten our root MySQL password (silly), so we retrieved it by following the instructions from Plesk.
On server with Parallels Plesk Panel versions 8.x, 9.x and above admin password is stored in file /etc/psa/.psa.shadow. Use the following command to get the password:
~# cat /etc/psa/.psa.shadow
Since version 10 admin password stored in file /etc/psa/.psa.shadow is encrypted. Use the following command to get admin password in plain text:
~# /usr/local/psa/bin/admin –show-password
Despite version of Parallels Plesk Panel you may use the following command to login to mysql with root privileges:
~# mysql -uadmin -p`cat /etc/psa/.psa.shadow`
