topic Re: File table overflow in Operating System - HP-UX

File table overflow

Walker_3 — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 04:03:51 GMT

Hi All,
I have rp4440 server with oracle application installed. I am facing the error: “HP-UX Error: 23: File table overflow” due to some Kernel parameters like maxusers, nproc, nfile etc. This is my opinion but I want to confirm on it. Please suggest me which Kernel parameters should be modified to which value to get rid of this error.

Regards,
Mostafa

Re: File table overflow

Joseph Loo — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 04:09:31 GMT

hi mostafa,

looks like nfile need to be increase.

regards.

Re: File table overflow

RAC_1 — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 04:11:01 GMT

wtach what exactly is causing the problem.
glance -t
sar -v 1 3

Is nfile limit getting hit??, If yes increase it and you shold be fine.

Re: File table overflow

Mugilvannan — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 04:11:52 GMT

File Table Overflow is due to insufficient 'nfile' kernel parameter. Check it's usage by running 'sar -v 2 20' and see the file-sz column. The ratio shouldn't be near 1. If so, then you will need to increase the 'nfile' value.

Use SAM to increase it. You can wipe out the formula and hardcode the value. Increase it by like 50% and see if it is helpful. Also it is a good idea to set nflocks value equal to nfile value.

Re: File table overflow

Arunvijai_4 — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 04:12:39 GMT

Can you check these threads,

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=665998
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=750342

-Arun

Re: File table overflow

Muthukumar_5 — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 04:20:02 GMT

It is frequent problem that you have to tune nfile limit.

Use kmtune utility / sam to do this.

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=691312

hth.

Re: File table overflow

Muthukumar_5 — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 04:21:34 GMT

HP tuning guide.

http://docs.hp.com/en/1219/tuningwp.html

# kmtune -q nfile -l

You have to tune relative, NPROC, MAXUSERS, NPTY, NSTRPTY and NSTRTEL parameters.

hth.

Re: File table overflow

Arunvijai_4 — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 04:23:48 GMT

http://docs.hp.com/en/5991-0710/ch04s01.html
[Optimizing the Operating Environment (Kernel Tuning)]

-Arun

Re: File table overflow

Walker_3 — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 04:26:24 GMT

Hi Joseph,

Could you please tell me the exact increase value of nfile?

Regards,
Mostafa

Re: File table overflow

Arunvijai_4 — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 04:31:17 GMT

What is your current nfile value ?
# kmtune -q nfile -l
Parameter: nfile
Current: 910
Planned: (16*(NPROC+16+MAXUSERS)/10+32+2*(NPTY+NSTRPTY+NSTRTEL))
Default: (16*(NPROC+16+MAXUSERS)/10+32+2*(NPTY+NSTRPTY+NSTRTEL))
Minimum: -
Module: -
Version: -
Dynamic: No

Nfile sizes the system file table. It contains entries in it for each instance of an open of a file. Therefore, it restricts the total number of concurrent "opens" on your system. We suggest that you set this at 2800. This parameter defaults to ((16 * (nproc + 16 + maxusers) / 10 ) + 32 + 2 * npty). If a process attempts to open one more (than nfile) file, the following message will appear on the console:
file: table is full

When this happens, running processes may fail because they cannot open files, and no new processes can be started.

-Arun

Re: File table overflow

Joseph Loo — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 04:33:12 GMT

hi,

what is the present value:

# kmtune -q nfile
or
# sar -v 3 5
check the file-sz column.

the value to change to will depend on the type of application or database running. i have it on 63498 running oracle 9i.

regards.

Re: File table overflow

Devender Khatana — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 04:33:27 GMT

Hi,

There is no hard and fast rule to define the nfile parameter. It always depends on your applications, no. of users etc.

What is the current value and how frequently it is fully utilized will help you to know the new number. For now you can go ahead by increasing it atleast by 10% of the current value or so.

HTH,
Devender

Re: File table overflow

Walker_3 — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 03:55:27 GMT

Its ok.