Apache Goes Up and Down : server reached MaxClients setting,

Hello List,

I am running RedHat 7.3/Apache/1.3.27 (Unix) mod_log_bytes/1.2
mod_bwlimited/1.0 PHP/4.3.2 FrontPage/5.0.2.2634 mod_ssl/2.8.14
OpenSSL/0.9.6b.

My Apache server goes up and down very frequently. When i checked the Logs
it says :
[Thu Jul 17 22:28:54 2003] [error] server reached MaxClients setting,
consider raising the MaxClients setting

So Restart Apache by increasing the MaxClient then it works Fine.
After the restart whenever a new request comes it again reaches the
Maxclient to the limit and gives me the Message in the error_log as
[Thu Jul 17 22:28:54 2003] [error] server reached MaxClients setting,
consider raising the MaxClients setting
and Apache Goes down.

I rebuild apache again but the samething is happening again and again.
Meanwhile i upgraded my kernel to 2.4.20-18.8.The Apache prob was before the
upgarde and after the upgarde also.I know Kernel and Apache concerns no
where but just to inform the list abt it.

Any Help would be appreciated.

Regards,
Tina.