* David Kaufman (gigawatt@optonline.net) [020728 00:55]:
>  again, just a shot in the dark, but why not try the more mod_perl specific
>  Apache::DBI instead of plain ole DBI?

Okay I have tried this.  I also edited the Apache/DBI.pm and enabled
both Apache::DBI and DBI debugging at level 2 so I could get a better
idea of what is going on before it dies.  I also put a line at the top
of my perl file and the end of my perl file defining the begin and end.
Here's what I see before it dies.

    DBI 1.21-nothread dispatch trace level set to 2
    Note: perl is running without the recommended perl -w option
------------ BEGIN -----------
    ->  DBI->Apache::DBI::connect(dbi:Informix:test, test, ****)
    ->  DBI->install_driver(Informix) for linux perl=5.006001 pid=17059
ruid=1000 euid=1000
       install_driver: DBD::Informix version 1.00.PC2 loaded from
/usr/local/lib/perl/5.6.1/DBD/Informix.pm
    <- install_driver= DBI::dr=HASH(0x819f0a8)
    <- FETCH= 'Informix' ('Name' from cache) at DBI.pm line 64
17059 Apache::DBI             skipping connection during server startup,
read the docu !!
    ->  connect for DBD::Informix::dr (DBI::dr=HASH(0x819f0a8)~0x81f50a0
'test' 'test' **** HASH(0x817d044))
--> > DBD::Informix::dbd_ix_db_preset()
AutoCommit set to 1
<<-- DBD::Informix::dbd_ix_db_preset()
--> > DBD::Informix::dbd_ix_db_login()
CONNECT TO 'test' with user info
<<-- DBD::Informix::dbd_ix_db_login()
    <- connect= DBI::db=HASH(0x81d4204) at DBI.pm line 83
    ->  STORE for DBD::Informix::db (DBI::db=HASH(0x81e1b68)~INNER
'PrintError' 1)
--> > DBD::Informix::dbd_ix_db_STORE_attrib()
<<-- DBD::Informix::dbd_ix_db_STORE_attrib()
    <- STORE= 1 at DBI.pm line 513
    ->  STORE for DBD::Informix::db (DBI::db=HASH(0x81e1b68)~INNER
'AutoCommit' 1)
--> > DBD::Informix::dbd_ix_db_STORE_attrib()
<<-- DBD::Informix::dbd_ix_db_STORE_attrib()
    <- STORE= 1 at DBI.pm line 513
    <- connect= DBI::db=HASH(0x81d4204)
------------ END -----------
    ->  DESTROY for DBD::Informix::db (DBI::db=HASH(0x81e1b68)~INNER)
--> > DBD::Informix::dbd_ix_db_disconnect()
DBD::Informix::dbd_ix_db_disconnect -- delete statements
--> > DBD::Informix::dbd_ix_link_delchain()
<<-- DBD::Informix::dbd_ix_link_delchain()
DBD::Informix::dbd_ix_db_disconnect -- statements deleted
DISCONNECT (x_000000000)
DISCONNECT -- STATUS 0
<<-- DBD::Informix::dbd_ix_db_disconnect()
--> > DBD::Informix::dbd_ix_db_destroy()
<<-- DBD::Informix::dbd_ix_db_destroy()
    <- DESTROY= undef

Than it cores, all new core dump.

#0  0x40260194 in Perl_share_hek () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#1  0x4025e919 in Perl_hv_store () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#2  0x4025e56a in Perl_hv_fetch () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#3  0x4021fa44 in Perl_gv_fetchpv () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#4  0x40225a1c in Perl_yylex () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#5  0x402374f0 in Perl_yyparse () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#6  0x4028bc49 in Perl_sv_compile_2op () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#7  0x4028cf6c in Perl_pp_require () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#8  0x40262411 in Perl_runops_standard () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#9  0x4021ab2c in perl_call_sv () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#10 0x4021a89e in perl_call_sv () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#11 0x4021e1db in Perl_call_list () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#12 0x4021de4f in Perl_call_list () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#13 0x40242b92 in Perl_newATTRSUB () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#14 0x4023face in Perl_utilize () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#15 0x4023829a in Perl_yyparse () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#16 0x4028bc49 in Perl_sv_compile_2op () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#17 0x4028cf6c in Perl_pp_require () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#18 0x40262411 in Perl_runops_standard () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#19 0x4021ab2c in perl_call_sv () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#20 0x4021a89e in perl_call_sv () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#21 0x4021e1db in Perl_call_list () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#22 0x4021de4f in Perl_call_list () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#23 0x40242b92 in Perl_newATTRSUB () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#24 0x4023face in Perl_utilize () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#25 0x4023829a in Perl_yyparse () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#26 0x4028bc49 in Perl_sv_compile_2op () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#27 0x4028cf6c in Perl_pp_require () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#28 0x40262411 in Perl_runops_standard () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#29 0x4021ab2c in perl_call_sv () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#30 0x4021a89e in perl_call_sv () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#31 0x4021e1db in Perl_call_list () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#32 0x4021de4f in Perl_call_list () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#33 0x40242b92 in Perl_newATTRSUB () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#34 0x4023face in Perl_utilize () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#35 0x4023829a in Perl_yyparse () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#36 0x4028bc49 in Perl_sv_compile_2op () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#37 0x4028cf6c in Perl_pp_require () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#38 0x40262411 in Perl_runops_standard () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#39 0x4021ab2c in perl_call_sv () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#40 0x4021a89e in perl_call_sv () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#41 0x4021e1db in Perl_call_list () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#42 0x4021de4f in Perl_call_list () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#43 0x40242b92 in Perl_newATTRSUB () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#44 0x4023face in Perl_utilize () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#45 0x4023829a in Perl_yyparse () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#46 0x4028bc49 in Perl_sv_compile_2op () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#47 0x4028cf6c in Perl_pp_require () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#48 0x40262411 in Perl_runops_standard () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#49 0x4021ab2c in perl_call_sv () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#50 0x4021acce in perl_eval_sv () from /usr/lib/libperl.so.5.6
#51 0x404856e4 in perl_require_module (name=0x404abd64 "Apache", s=0x8094c04) at perl_util.c
:550
#52 0x4047e9d7 in perl_cmd_module (parms=0xbffff8fc, dummy=0x8096904, arg=0x82147fc "Apache:
:DBI") at perl_config.c:591
#53 0x08054e7d in invoke_cmd (cmd=0x404b3090, parms=0xbffff8fc, mconfig=0x8096904, args=0xbf
ffd872 "") at http_config.c:946
#54 0x08055301 in ap_handle_command (parms=0xbffff8fc, config=0x8095134, l=0xbfffd85c "PerlM
odule Apache::DBI") at http_config.c:1079
#55 0x0805539d in ap_srm_command_loop (parms=0xbffff8fc, config=0x8095134) at http_config.c:
1093
#56 0x08055a69 in ap_process_resource_config (s=0x8094c04, fname=0x808d700 "/var/tmp/test.co
nf", p=0x8094bdc, ptemp=0x809f2fc) at http_config.c:1355
#57 0x080563bc in ap_read_config (p=0x8094bdc, ptemp=0x809f2fc, confname=0x808d700 "/var/tmp
/test.conf") at http_config.c:1647
#58 0x08060c43 in standalone_main (argc=6, argv=0xbffffa64) at http_main.c:5158
#59 0x080615cc in main (argc=6, argv=0xbffffa64) at http_main.c:5558

So for grins, I than decided I would try postgres to just verify this is
an Informix issue.

I commented out the Informix lines in my startup perl script, and added
the 4 lines necessary to connect to a local postgres database, and sure
enough it works.  Here's what the output looks like.

    DBI 1.21-nothread dispatch trace level set to 2
    Note: perl is running without the recommended perl -w option
------------ BEGIN -----------
    -> 
DBI-> Apache::DBI::connect(dbi:Pg:dbname=ftf;host=grumple;port=6110, ,
****)
    ->  DBI->install_driver(Pg) for linux perl=5.006001 pid=17070
ruid=1000 euid=1000
       install_driver: DBD::Pg version 1.11 loaded from
/home/grumple/src/ftf.newshit/ext/lib/perl5/DBD/Pg.pm
    <- install_driver= DBI::dr=HASH(0x819f0a8)
    <- FETCH= 'Pg' ('Name' from cache) at DBI.pm line 64
17070 Apache::DBI             skipping connection during server startup,
read the docu !!
    ->  connect for DBD::Pg::dr (DBI::dr=HASH(0x819f0a8)~0x81f656c
'dbname=ftf;host=grumple;port=6110' '' **** HASH(0x817d044))
pg_db_login
pg_db_login: conn_str = > dbname=ftf host=grumple port=6110<
    <- connect= DBI::db=HASH(0x81f6530) at DBI.pm line 83
    ->  STORE for DBD::Pg::db (DBI::db=HASH(0x81f6518)~INNER 'PrintError'
1)
dbd_db_STORE
    <- STORE= 1 at DBI.pm line 513
    ->  STORE for DBD::Pg::db (DBI::db=HASH(0x81f6518)~INNER 'AutoCommit'
1)
dbd_db_STORE
dbd_db_STORE: initialize AutoCommit to on
    <- STORE= 1 at DBI.pm line 513
    <- connect= DBI::db=HASH(0x81f6530)
------------ END -----------
    ->  DESTROY for DBD::Pg::db (DBI::db=HASH(0x81f6518)~INNER)
Database handle destroyed without explicit disconnect.
dbd_db_disconnect
dbd_db_destroy
    <- DESTROY= undef

It seems to just look good, and work all dandy.  Yet the Informix
driver just blows up horribly.
>  
>  > use DBD::Informix;
>  
>  i don't think you need this use statement at all.  the DBI->connect() call
>  should load the "correct" DBD Driver, for you, not that it *should* make any
>  difference... but hey.

Me either, just put it in there just in case.  Makes NO difference.

>  i would certainly suggest adding:
>  
>      or die DBI::errstr;
>  
>  to that connect() call!

Yeah, was just throwing together a sample program.  Not trying to put
together something to be "production" quality.  :-)

>  
>  > $dbh->disconnect();
>  
>  um, okay but why disconnect at all, if you know the segfault is caused by
>  the connect and/or disconnect calls? have you tries simply *not*
>  disconnecting?  one of The Features/Advantages of Apache::DBI (over plain
>  ole DBI) is that disconnect calls simlpy destroy the connection *object*
>  (the perl data structure) without actually disconnecting from the DB, and
>  therby maintaining a pool of cached connections, and therby speeding things
>  up nicely.

I have removed the disconnect, but it makes no difference as suspected.

I will note that once the server is started, it has 0 problems
communicating with Informix, it's only in this startup script that it
blows up badly.

-- 
Greg Rumple
grumple@zaphon.llamas.net