Bug#294416:

[spam@mindcandydesign.com]

Package: apache2-common
Version: 2.0.52-3

If you install this package, but not apache2 (note: in aptitude, this is
found first, and not adjacent to apache2), then you get an apparently
fully installed apache2, but without the sbin file.

So far, so "not so great", but OK. No?

No. Because you get an /etc/init.d/apache, which you can start, and it
fails SILENTLY. I know this is PEBKAC, but for want of one line of code,
the mistake can be detected and the user warned. Given that all the files
EXCEPT the binary are installed, it can take a while to notice the
problem.

Suggest altering the following code in that init.d file:

-----
set -e
if [ -x /usr/sbin/apache2 ] ; then
        HAVE_APACHE2=1
else
        exit 0
fi
-----

to something like:

-----
set -e
if [ -x /usr/sbin/apache2 ] ; then
        HAVE_APACHE2=1
else
        echo "no apache2 found in sbin"
        exit 0
fi
-----

Then at least you are pumping out an error message!

Silently quitting with NO MESSAGE and NOTHING IN THE LOG FILES is not nice.

HAND.