Recently installed httpd-2.0.43 on a linux box (more or less SuSE 7.2 default) and it occured, that the httpd cannot be started from a cron job. It runs and starts normally if started manually (apachectl start) or called from the bootscripts (also apachectl start). apachectl restart from cronjob is also no problem. If I call apachectl stop and then apache start from a cronjob, the error is: [error] (88)Socket operation on non-socket: apr_accept: (client socket) that fills the error log with a new entry every second or so. Don't know, if it's a configuration error, but I don't think so. In httpd-1.3.26 it worked fine (1.3.27 not tested). I've built also the STRIKER_2_0_44_PRE1 from today - same error. Do you need some (compile) configuration data?
IIRC, this has something to do with some draconian ulimit's that are set in cronjobs on certain platforms. I would suggest posting to the development list or searching the archives as I'm fairly sure this has come up before. (Certainly, Greg Ames would be doing this on daedalus.)
Just a note to myself. Will test it, if the server's not under load ...
Had no chance to actually test it, but the server is now gone. I'm assuming, it was an ulimit issue.