Thanks for filing this bug in Ubuntu. I just repeated your steps on a xenial lxd, using apache2 2.4.18-2ubuntu3.10, and after rebooting the container, apache2 was not started. I got the same warnings that you did, however.
Furthermore, status also shows it's inactive after the reboot: $ systemctl status apache2 ● apache2.service - LSB: Apache2 web server Loaded: loaded (/etc/init.d/apache2; bad; vendor preset: enabled) Drop-In: /lib/systemd/system/apache2.service.d └─apache2-systemd.conf Active: inactive (dead) Docs: man:systemd-sysv-generator(8) Could you please try the above status command after you reboot, see what it says? Maybe you have something else starting apache, or requiring it perhaps? ** Changed in: apache2 (Ubuntu) Status: New => Incomplete -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Server, which is subscribed to apache2 in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1787225 Title: systemctl disable apache2 does nothing To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apache2/+bug/1787225/+subscriptions -- Ubuntu-server-bugs mailing list Ubuntu-server-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-server-bugs