Tru64 5.1B - arg list too long - change arg_max?

[Brian BB Beaumont]

Running Tru64 5.1B
We have increased the number of environment variables defined in the .profile of an account (uses ksh), its an application requirement. Now we get the same error for any command, for example: ksh: /usr/bin/ls: arg list too long.
Research seems to indicate that we need to increase the value of arg_max, but it is not at all clear how. Please could someone confirm that increasing arg_max is the correct resolution to this and also how this should be done?
Many thanks Brian.

[Mark Poeschl_2 · Accepted solution]

Try setting the 'proc' subsystem kernel parameter 'exec_disable_arg_limit' to '1'.

[Pieter 't Hart]

In the mentioned example, I should check the number of files contained in the directory.
try "/usr/bin/ls a*", a* being a partial filename to limit the number of "arguments" retrieved by this command.
maybe even "aa*" or "aaa*" need to be specified to shorten the list.

at least you specify "ls" including the path, else you should check all dir's in the path.

Pieter

[Brian BB Beaumont]

Mark many thanks.
We set exec_disable_arg_limit = 1 and this does resolve the problem

[Brian BB Beaumont]

Resolved as per previous comment