[net.unix-wizards] number of open files

fct@raybed2.UUCP (02/12/85)

We are having a problem at our site in that we would like to
increase the number of files that a user can have open at one
time from 20 files to 30 files. I found where to change it in
param.h and I've remade the kernel after changing it there, but
when we reboot with the new kernel, several things don't work
correctly. If you do a 'ps', you get nothing except the header line.
Also, it shows the 'init' process having some huge amount of cpu time.
Is there any other place that needs to be changed, other than the value
in 'param.h'. Please send mail as our site has had problems getting the
news. Thank you. (We are running 4.1BSD on a vax/780)

Fred Thompson
SDF Staff
(I'm not sure of the address, you may have to get it from the header)

bill@ur-cvsvax.UUCP (Bill Vaughn) (02/19/85)

> We are having a problem at our site in that we would like to
> increase the number of files that a user can have open at one
> time from 20 files to 30 files. I found where to change it in
> param.h and I've remade the kernel after changing it there, but
> when we reboot with the new kernel, several things don't work
> correctly. If you do a 'ps', you get nothing except the header line.
> Also, it shows the 'init' process having some huge amount of cpu time.
> Is there any other place that needs to be changed, other than the value
> in 'param.h'. Please send mail as our site has had problems getting the
> news. Thank you. (We are running 4.1BSD on a vax/780)
> 

When you change a system header file like 'param.h', you'll have to
recompile all the system utilities which use that header file.  This is
the purpose of the 'make depend' in most of the Makefiles in /usr/src/*.
You should be able to get a list of the files you'll have to recompile
with the command 'grep param.h /usr/src/*/Makefile'.

Fantisizing, it may be useful (and sobering) to have a daemon with a full
table of dependicies send the system administrator mail reminding him of
the work ahead of him whenever he/she touches system headers.

Bill Vaughn
Univ. of Rochester, CVS