In an Oracle environment, which option correctly describes how to start and stop the Oracle HTTP Server in a controlled way?

Introduction / Context:
Managing the lifecycle of Oracle HTTP Server is an important part of administering Oracle middleware environments. Administrators must know how to start and stop the web server cleanly, without corrupting configuration files or disrupting other components. This question evaluates whether you understand that Oracle provides specific control utilities such as opmnctl in older versions and ohsctl or related scripts in more recent releases, rather than relying on database SQL commands or destructive file operations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We have an Oracle environment with Oracle HTTP Server installed.
• We need to start and stop the Oracle HTTP Server instance safely.
• We know that Oracle includes management scripts and tools for its components.
• We assume standard installation and configuration, not emergency recovery scenarios.

Concept / Approach:
Oracle HTTP Server runs as an operating system process or set of processes. Oracle provides control utilities that integrate these processes with the overall Oracle middleware stack. In older Oracle Application Server versions, the Oracle Process Manager and Notification Server (OPMN) is used, and administrators use the opmnctl command to start or stop components. In newer Fusion Middleware versions, ohsctl or other domain level scripts are used. These tools read configuration files, manage logs, and coordinate startup and shutdown. Using SQL statements or deleting directories is not appropriate, because Oracle HTTP Server is not a database schema and must be managed at the middle tier level.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Oracle HTTP Server is a middle tier component, similar to Apache HTTP Server, and not part of the database kernel. Step 2: Remember that Oracle provides scripts such as opmnctl, ohsctl, and domain level startup scripts to control middleware services. Step 3: Examine Option A, which explicitly mentions using opmnctl or ohsctl to issue start and stop commands for the Oracle HTTP Server instance. This matches standard practice. Step 4: Examine Option B, which suggests deleting the installation directory. This would corrupt the installation and is clearly wrong. Step 5: Examine Option C and D, which propose using database schemas or SQL*Plus commands. These do not control middle tier processes. Step 6: Examine Option E, which recommends rebooting the entire operating system. This is unnecessary and not specific to Oracle HTTP Server. Step 7: Conclude that Option A is the only correct method described.

Verification / Alternative check:
In a real Oracle middleware installation, you can navigate to the Oracle home and run opmnctl startall or similar commands, which will start Oracle HTTP Server along with other configured components. Log files will show startup messages. To stop the service, you use opmnctl stopproc or stopall. Documentation for Oracle HTTP Server explicitly references these utilities. There are no ALTER SYSTEM START HTTP commands in SQL*Plus, which confirms that Option D is fictional. Likewise, deleting directories and rebooting the operating system are not documented or safe administrative practices for this component.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option B is wrong because deleting the installation directory destroys executable files and configuration, making it impossible to restart without reinstalling.
• Option C is wrong because Oracle HTTP Server is not controlled through a database schema and cannot be started or stopped with schema operations.
• Option D is wrong because SQL*Plus is a database client, and there are no HTTP server start or stop commands available there.
• Option E is wrong because rebooting the entire operating system is disruptive, slow, and not specific to controlling Oracle HTTP Server.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to assume that all Oracle components are controlled solely through database tools. Another pitfall is editing configuration files or killing processes manually without using the provided utilities, which can lead to inconsistent states. Administrators should always learn the recommended start and stop procedures for each Oracle version and test them in non production environments before applying them in production.

Final Answer:
The correct description is Option A: Use the supplied control scripts such as opmnctl or ohsctl (depending on version) to issue start and stop commands for the Oracle HTTP Server instance.