Apache on has exceeded the maximum amount of open files

[cheapo]

How do i fix this?

[Chase]

This problem can be fixed in the httpd.conf file.

[ckevin]

My server also had this problem, how can I fix it in the httpd.conf file?

[Chase]

Hello,
Do you have AIM or ICQ or any messengers if so PM me your name will help you out some more on there.

[remal]

i have the same proplem, can you post the solution here?

[Chase]

It looks like I'm going to have to if I get anymore request. Go ahead and shoot me a PM and I will type up on how to fix this in a few hours on the forums.

[WildWayz]

I have this problem too - how do i fix it?
MaxClients is set to 260 at the moment...

[moalim]

have this problem too - how do i fix it?

[silvernetuk]

Having same problem to, how do I fix it ?

Regards,
Garry

[gleen]

Some problem here! Does Support monitor the forums at all?

[Website Rob]

Originally posted by gleen
Some problem here! Does Support monitor the forums at all?

What makes you think this has anything to do the Control Panel?

[gleen]

This:

http://forums.cpanel.net/showthread....ght=open+files

And the fact that I never had this problem until I went to WHM/cPanel

[IziTop]

same problem for me

[gleen]

After a month with support I at least found out this info. And I stress "I found out" rather than useless support. The error is being reported by:

/scripts/checkmaxclients

It appears to search the error log for the phrase "you probably need to rebuild Apache with a larger FD_SETSIZE" and generates that email. The problem here is the cPanel script interprets "probably" to "has exceeded". I think it could be something else generating this warning in Apache, but who knows.

Also curious since my Apache error log does NOT contain that line.

And unknown why ${hostname} doesn't display properly.

[Website Rob]

Q: What makes you think this has anything to do the Control Panel?

A: This: http://forums.cpanel.net/showthread....ght=open+files


Well, let's see. For some reason this thread appealed to me and some investigating showed the following.

My Servers are in the neighbourhood of MaxClients 180.
I did the testing mentioned at the link reference from gleen and discovered:


ps -ef | grep apache -- to find the process id (I'll use 28181)
-- showed 14 processes

cd /proc/28181/fd; ls|wc -- to see the number of file descriptors open by apache
-- showed one process, sometimes 3

cd /proc/28181/fd; ls -lh|cat -n
-- showed 486 files open for that process

If the math is correct, 14 x 486 = 6,804
then I am way over my alloted 1024 max. File Descriptors.

That is obviously wrong though, as each process is using the same 486 open files. And, there are 191 zones on this Server, BTW.


Can we then conclude that any FD_SETSIZE errors are due to; an over subscribed Server, an Apache setup that is not optimized, or is it that the kernel version is 2.0 or lower -- which has a max. FD Size of 256.


If you have an inquiring mind -- and really want to know -- then run the following:

uname -a

-- see what kernel version is really being used

ulimit -Sa (this shows the soft limit settings)
ulimit -Ha (this shows the hard limit settings)

Find out what your current limits are. The Soft limit can be increased to the max. allowable Hard limit. If you are using a kernel version earlier than 2.2.x, you will need to either; upgrade to 2.4.x or install a patch. By default, I do believe, Soft limit should already be set to Hard limit -- of 1024. Mine are; using kernel 2.4.x. Check the Man page for 'ulimit' to find out more.

You can also do:

cd /proc; grep FDSize */status

to shortcut your output and see what your FD Sizes are set to and current usage. This was mentioned in the thread shown above, but I use to, cut to the chase.


One should seldom run into a problem with the FD Size and, if they do, hire someone (or do the learning) to optimize it. It's also possible that problems with FD Size is due to; Server is oversold, Apache not optimized, kernel is too old or not patched.

Which brings me back to my question:
What makes you think this has anything to do the Control Panel?

Answer, I guess WHM/Cpanel could be better optimized, although I'm not sure how, but in the main, this problem is more to do with the kernel being used and, if any optimization methods are used. Both should help to overcome WHM/Cpanel's current shortcomings in this area.