logon errors

[MMcNamara]

hp-ux 11.0

What is the meaning for the folowing message -
Error couldn't open /usr/lib/dld.sl errorno:000000023
/etc/profile[40] cannot make pipe

Users are getting this some times when they log in but not all the time.... Is it related to having to many files open ?

[Alex Glennie]

sounds like you need to increase the nfile parameter or even better increase the value of maxusers

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi:

Yes, the key indication is the error number. Error-23 is ENFILE (File table overflow). This indicates that the kernel's 'nfile' is too small. 'nfile' governs the limit on open files system-wide. You can monitor it with 'sar -v' and/or glance's system table view [toggle 't']. I suggest you increase the value of 'nfile' and regenerate your kernel.

Regards!

...JRF...

[Frank Slootweg · Accepted solution]

Just some explanation on how to get from the error message to the mentioned ENFILE and nfile:

If you get a message with "errno" and then some number, then grep(1) the number (without the leading zeros) in /usr/include/sys/errno.h. In this case that gives:

$ grep 23 /usr/include/sys/errno.h
#define ENFILE 23 /* File table overflow */

That already gives a clue in *this* case, but in general, if the name of a system call is mentioned or implied, you look up the error *name* (ENFILE) in the respective manual page, i.e. open(2) ("man 2 open") in this case. If the system call is not menationed, you look at the *general* meaning of the error name in the errno(2) ("man errno" manual page.

In this case the meaning is "The system file table is full."/"File table overflow. The system's table of open files is full, and temporarily no more open()s can be accepted.". From this you have to conclude that it is some kernel parameter and SAM should point you to nfile.

[MMcNamara]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your help - increasing the nfile parameter did the trick.

Frank - Your nice hint that I should check out the messages fully before posting a query is correct. I was not aware of the ways for interpreting messages as you outlined.

MMC.