Many webmasters ask me how to stop core dump files in Apache.. Now today i will tell you how to stop core dump file in apache.  This is basically happens when System Crashes it makes a coredump file in the public_html Directory.

The possible reason for the core files getting generated is when a php process is killed, apache creates core files under your account .

On phpSuexec servers this may cause due to incorrect php.ini file placed in your account and if it is caused due to php/apache then you can get rid off those core files by editing the httpd startup file on the server end .

Lets start

root@server [~]# vi /etc/init.d/httpd

Search for ulimit lines .For eg : you can see these lines

ulimit -n 1024
ulimit -n 4096
ulimit -n 8192
ulimit -n 16384

You need to add ulimit -c 0 at the end .Which will look like :

ulimit -n 1024
ulimit -n 4096
ulimit -n 8192
ulimit -n 16384
ulimit -c 0

root@server [~]# :wq

Save changes and quit.
Now kill / stop apache service and then start apache service on the server .

root@server [~]# service httpd stop
root@server [~]# service httpd stop
httpd (no pid file) not running
root@server [~]# service httpd startssl
root@server [~]# service httpd startssl
httpd (pid 21154) already running

Finished

It works most of the OS.

Self tested on CENTOS 5.2 i686 on standard