[users@httpd] apache run status: how to tell as non-root user (on *nix)?

[Tom Browder]

I need to programatically determine whether httpd is running or not,
whether I'm root or not. The only reliable way I have found is to use the
system command 'ps -C httpd' and grep the results.

Is there a better way?

Thanks.

Best regards,

-Tom