How to reload Apache from php?

Question

PHP

How to soft reload Apache2 from php?
I found a solution that worked for someone as they write, but it does not work for me
<?php exec('apachectl -k graceful'); ?>

1. PHP is not running as root.
   
2. But the script above tested from under the root, did not work.
   
3. I also want to find a way to reload it from php by passing the password.
   
4. Or create a .sh (never done) script on the server that can be run from php without a password. If I may.
   
5. Or any other correct way in your opinion.
   

Dear, I will be very grateful for the right direction and help in this not an easy issue.

Answer 1

I join the Arhimed96 nonsense - how to cut the branch on which you sit?
But everything is possible. One of many solutions: To do this, you need to write a shell script with a reboot and give it permission to run with sudo for the www-data user in the /etc/sudoer file. Type in the apache search engine www-data sudoer

Answer 2

If php is not running as root - no way.
Option - we make a listener and run it as root, and we already give him commands to reboot.
The most important crutch - we write sh with a cycle and sleep every 5 seconds, which checks the file /tmp/apache_reboot for 1.
If the file is 0 - we fall asleep for 5 seconds, if 1 - we do a reboot and change 1 to 0.

Answer 3

The answer will be ridiculous, like the question itself, but you can listen to some port through a sh-script (launched as root), when accessed with a password, Apache will reboot.