# Can't get Fast CGI working **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [March 4, 2006, 8:21pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/cant-get-fast-cgi-working/54432 "2006-03-04T20:21:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mendake](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@mendake](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mendake)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 8:21pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/cant-get-fast-cgi-working/54432/1 "2006-03-04T20:21:11Z")
Well, after many hours of tinkering and internet browsing I just can’t get Fast CGI to work with Rails and Apache 1.3 on FreeBSD 5.4 Normal CGI works fine, but as soon as I enable FastCGI in .htaccess I get the message: Application error Rails application failed to start properly Here’s what I’ve done so far: - I’ve installed all the necessary software for rails and fast cgi. - FastCGI does seem to be configured correctly in the apache config file. I’ve added the necessary virtual host settings and other apache directives, as per the instructions on the Rails wiki. - In .htaccess I changed RewriteRule ^(.\*)$ dispatch.cgi [QSA,L] to RewriteRule ^(.\*)$ dispatch.fcgi [QSA,L] - Cleared out rails related temporary files from /tmp. - I’ve restarted apache. - I’ve restarted my browser. - I’ve made sure dispatch.fcgi contains the line “require ‘fcgi\_handler’” (without quotes, of course). - I set the /log directory permissions to 755. Heck, I even set the entire rails directory to 777 (it’s on a local intranet, so security isn’t a big issue right now). But despite my best efforts I’m not getting any love from rails and fast cgi, and I’m completely stuck. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![mendake](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@mendake](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mendake)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 10:13pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/cant-get-fast-cgi-working/54432/2 "2006-03-04T22:13:39Z")
I experienced the (approximately, I’m using Apache 2.x) same problems. To keep a long story short, I’m using Lighttpd now. The long story is here: [http://www.mindshards.net/?p=15](http://www.mindshards.net/?p=15) amongst others. In the end Apache did work but still unsatisfactory. Rails developers should _really_ start supporting Apache for real. From a glace at your post I’d same you need to point to your fcgi server. MenDAKE wrote: > Well, after many hours of tinkering and internet browsing I just can’t > get Fast CGI to work with Rails and Apache 1.3 on FreeBSD 5.4 Normal CGI > works fine, but as soon as I enable FastCGI in .htaccess I get the > message: > > Application error > Rails application failed to start properly > > Here’s what I’ve done so far: > > - I’ve installed all the necessary software for rails and fast cgi. > > - FastCGI does seem to be configured correctly in the apache config > file. I’ve added the necessary virtual host settings and other apache > directives, as per the instructions on the Rails wiki. > > - In .htaccess I changed > > RewriteRule ^(.\*)$ dispatch.cgi [QSA,L] > > to > > RewriteRule ^(.\*)$ dispatch.fcgi [QSA,L] > > - Cleared out rails related temporary files from /tmp. > > - I’ve restarted apache. > > - I’ve restarted my browser. > > - I’ve made sure dispatch.fcgi contains the line “require > ‘fcgi\_handler’” (without quotes, of course). > > - I set the /log directory permissions to 755. Heck, I even set the > entire rails directory to 777 (it’s on a local intranet, so security > isn’t a big issue right now). > > But despite my best efforts I’m not getting any love from rails and fast > cgi, and I’m completely stuck. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![mendake](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@mendake](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mendake)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/cant-get-fast-cgi-working/54432/3 "2006-03-05T03:08:28Z")
Thanks for the response, Anon. What do you mean about needing to point to my fcgi server? ---
**Author:** ![mendake](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@mendake](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mendake)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 1:33pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/cant-get-fast-cgi-working/54432/4 "2006-03-05T13:33:34Z")
Am Samstag, den 04.03.2006, 20:21 +0100 schrieb MenDAKE: > But despite my best efforts I’m not getting any love from rails and fast > cgi, and I’m completely stuck. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Call ruby public/dispatch.fcgi ## from your Rails root directory and see if some exceptions appear. Norman T. [http://blog.inlet-media.de](http://blog.inlet-media.de) ---
**Author:** ![mendake](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@mendake](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mendake)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 6:57pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/cant-get-fast-cgi-working/54432/5 "2006-03-05T18:57:03Z")
Well I run apache2 and have this file /etc/apache2/mod-available/fastcgi.conf which is something like a httpd.conf exerpt. In there I have: AddHandler fastcgi-script .fcgi FastCgiIpcDir /var/lib/apache2/fastcgi FastCgiServer /path/to/your/apps/public/dispatch.fcgi -processes 2 -idle-timeout 60 Which points to your fastcgi server. MenDAKE wrote: > Thanks for the response, Anon. What do you mean about needing to point > to my fcgi server? ---
**Author:** ![mendake](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@mendake](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mendake)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 10:37pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/cant-get-fast-cgi-working/54432/6 "2006-03-06T22:37:48Z")
anon wrote: > Well I run apache2 and have this file > /etc/apache2/mod-available/fastcgi.conf which is something like a > httpd.conf exerpt. In there I have: > AddHandler fastcgi-script .fcgi > FastCgiIpcDir /var/lib/apache2/fastcgi > FastCgiServer /path/to/your/apps/public/dispatch.fcgi -processes 2 > -idle-timeout 60 > > Which points to your fastcgi server. > > MenDAKE wrote: > > > Thanks for the response, Anon. What do you mean about needing to point > > to my fcgi server? That was it! I never read anywhere that the above lines need to be added to the apache file, but that completely fixed my problem. Rails is now blazingly fast. Thank you VERY much for your help.