[TriLUG] wacky server behavior

[Jason Tower]

compaq 1850R server, fresh mandrake 10 install w/ apache2.  if the 
server is booted w/ apache disabled, it boots fine, i can login and run 
'service httpd start' and everything works properly.

however, if i 'chkconfig httpd on' and reboot, it will hang while 
starting apache.  if i ssh in and run 'ps aux|grep httpd' this is the 
result:

root      2799  0.5  0.3  2856 1592 ?        S    20:49   
0:00 /bin/sh /etc/rc3.d/S92httpd start
root      2943  0.0  0.1  1584  516 ?        S    20:49   0:00 initlog 
-q -c httpd2 -f /etc/httpd/conf/httpd2.conf
root      2944  1.2  0.5  8812 2748 ?        S    20:49   0:00 httpd2 
-f /etc/httpd/conf/httpd2.conf

so something in init script or init itself is hanging.  now, here's the 
oddest part: if i go to the physical console and hold down the ctrl key 
for a few seconds, httpd finishes starting and the server is 100% up a 
few seconds later.  i've installed mandrake 10 on over a dozen servers 
and have never seen this problem.  hell, my -own- server is an 1850R w/ 
mdk10 and it works fine w/ apache.  i am baffled by this behavior.

this is a big problem as this machine is supposed to be a mail and web 
server.  it won't boot with apache enabled, and it won't serve up web 
content with it disabled.  anyone have any thoughts?  no joke, $20 to 
the first person who can help me figure out how to make this thing boot 
w/ apache enabled.

jason