max_nprocs Parameter

Description

Specifies the maximum number of processes that can be created on a system. Includes system processes and user processes. Any value specified in /etc/system.dfile is used in the computation of maxuprc.

This value is also used in determining the size of several other system data structures. Other data structures where this parameter plays a role are as follows:

• Determining the size of the directory name lookup cache (if ncsize is not specified)

• Verifying that the amount of memory used by configured system V semaphores does not exceed system limits

• Configuring Hardware Address Translation resources for x86 platforms

Data Type

Signed integer

Default

10 + (16 x maxusers) if maxusers is set in /etc/system.d/file

The larger of 30,000 or 10 + (128 x number of CPUs), if maxusers is not set in /etc/system.d/file

Range

26 to value of maxpid

Dynamic?

No

Validation

Yes. If the value exceeds maxpid, it is set to maxpid .

When to Change

Changing this parameter is one of the steps necessary to enable support for more than 30,000 processes on a system.

Commitment Level

Unstable