Issue Apache doesn't start - AH00141: Could not initialize rand???

[ttb1979]

Hi there,

I hope you can help me. My webserver is down. I use Plesk Onyx 17.8.11 Update #95.

Something must have gone wrong this morning during an auto-update.
Since my Apache doesn't start anymore.

The error is:
(38)Function not implemented: AH00141: Could not initialize random number generator get_apache_path: '/usr/sbin/apache2ctl -v' failed

I already contacted my provider and he informed me that I would be using an external source and not the default one.
The source meant is:

root@www:/# cat /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ondrej-ubuntu-apache2-xenial.list
deb Index of /ondrej/apache2/ubuntu xenial main
# deb-src Index of /ondrej/apache2/ubuntu xenial main

Through the above they state, that the following Apache is installed:

ii apache2 2.4.46-4+deb.sury.org+1+ubuntu16.04.1+deb.sury.org+5 amd64 Apache HTTP Server


They now recommend to
- remove the external source
- completely remove Apache
- install Apache from the system sources

They say, the following Apache shall be installed:

ii apache2 2.4.18-2ubuntu3.17 amd64 Apache HTTP Server

They also note, that all Apache config will be gone.

I need your help now, because I have like 25 websites running on my server and I am really uncertain,
- which config to save
- how to do the above
- how to config Apache like it was before this morning update.

 

[weltonw]

Run `echo $PATH` and see what that returns

Edit: Also check for /dev/rand. and urand.