topic Re: The fork function failed. Too many processes already exist in Operating System - HP-UX

The fork function failed. Too many processes already exist

Amran Md Said — Thu, 11 Jul 2002 00:43:16 GMT

When I login from user to root using the su function I got the error message "The fork function failed. Too many processes already exist".
What kernel parameter do I have to increase?
Also on the dmesg I got the message "File table is full".
Please help.
Server : hp ux-11 64 bit
Memory : 1 GigSwapinfo :
Kb Kb Kb PCT START/ Kb
TYPE AVAIL USED FREE USED LIMIT RESERVE PRI NAME
dev 1048576 168652 879924 16% 0 - 1 /dev/vg00/lvol2
reserve - 719048 -719048
memory 747344 231984 515360 31%

Re: The fork function failed. Too many processes already exist

Bill Hassell — Thu, 11 Jul 2002 00:52:41 GMT

Run SAM and change the two kernel parameters: nfile and nproc. Double or triple their current size. Your system is growing and needs larger tables.

Re: The fork function failed. Too many processes already exist

T G Manikandan — Thu, 11 Jul 2002 02:17:30 GMT

For the file table is full you have to increase the

nfile kernel parameter.

For the fork function failed

you have to check the

maxuprc (maximum number of processes for a user on the system)

Also check the value of

nproc total number of processes

But this seems to be the user processes reaching its peak value.
maxuprc

check this link

http://www.docs.hp.com//hpux/onlinedocs/os/KCparams.OverviewAll.html

Re: The fork function failed. Too many processes already exist

MANOJ SRIVASTAVA — Thu, 11 Jul 2002 02:26:08 GMT

Hi Amran

sar -v 2 10
will give you the real time usage of nfile nproc and ninode , most likely in your case either the nproc has got saturated or maxuprc ie maximum process that a user can run ( deafault is 75 ) has got saturated , in eithr case you will have to run sam and change the kernel parameter , you may also like to see this :
http://docs.hp.com/hpux/onlinedocs/os/KCparams.OverviewAll.html

Manoj Srivastava