apache - Periodic action under mod_perl -

how perform periodic actions under mod_perl, apache2?

for instance, need reload data remote location, process it, , store in memory. ideally, don't want while request being served.

i highly doubt alarm never used across our codebase, setting periodic alarm won't work. external storage (like redis/memcached) can fast still not fast process's own memory.

i believe can done using custom signal, pkill , cron. signal handler execution may postponed until cleanup phase if needed.

but maybe there's more straightforward way? obvious don't see?

if built perl embedded apache threading support, create thread in startup script.

if not, it's going complicated make sure every apache process updates itself.