maxfiles(5)							File Formats Manual						       maxfiles(5)

NAME

       maxfiles - initial (soft) maximum number of file descriptors per process

VALUES

   Failsafe
   Default
       The  default  value is computed at runtime and depends on the amount of physical memory on the system.  For small memory systems (less than
       1GB), the default is 512.  For systems with more than 1GB of memory, the default is 2048, or 2K.

   Allowed values
       The minimum value is 32.  The maximum value is 1048576, or 1M.  The value is further constrained in that it must be equal to or	less  than
       the hard limit,

       Specify a positive integer value.

   Recommended values
       At runtime, a warning will be issued if the tunable is set to a value greater than 409600, or 400K.  This is beyond the tested limit.

       At runtime, a warning will be issued if the value is not a multiple of the file descriptor chunk (multiple of 8) size.  This is not a seri-
       ous warning, just an information message for the administrator.

DESCRIPTION

       specifies the initial default number of file descriptors a process is allowed to have for open files at any given time.	It is possible for
       a process to increase its soft limit and therefore open more than files.

       Nonsuperuser processes can increase their soft limit using or until they reach the hard limit,

   Who Is Expected to Change This Tunable?
       This  value  of	this tunable rarely needs to be modified.  However, this tunable may need to be modified on systems that will run applica-
       tions using large numbers of file descriptors, or on systems where memory consumption needs to be reduced.

   Restrictions on Changing
       This tunable is static.	To have changes to the value of this tunable take effect, a system reboot is required.

   When Should the Value of This Tunable Be Raised?
       This tunable may need to be raised on systems that will run applications using large numbers of file descriptors if the applications do not
       already increase their process soft limit, for example using

   What are the Side Effects of Raising the Value?
       The initial process memory footprint grows due to a larger per process file table.

   When Should the Value of This Tunable Be Lowered?
       The value should be lowered to limit the number of initial file descriptors per process on a system to reduce memory consumption.

   What are the Side Effects of Lowering the Value?
       The initial process memory footprint shrinks due to a smaller per process file table.

   What Other Tunable Values Should Be Changed at the Same Time?
       The value assigned to must be less than or equal to the value of Kernel checks during tunable setting ensure this.

WARNINGS

       All  HP-UX kernel tunable parameters are release specific.  This parameter may be removed or have its meaning changed in future releases of
       HP-UX.

       Installation of optional kernel software, from HP or other vendors, may cause changes to tunable  parameter  values.   After  installation,
       some  tunable  parameters may no longer be at the default or recommended values.  For information about the effects of installation on tun-
       able values, consult the documentation for the kernel software being installed.	For information about optional kernel  software  that  was
       factory installed on your system, see at

AUTHOR

       was developed by HP.

SEE ALSO

       kctune(1M), sam(1M), gettune(2), settune(2), ulimit(2), setrlimit(2), maxfiles_lim(5).

							     Tunable Kernel Parameters						       maxfiles(5)