Dear Michael, My favorite way to write such a recursive function is the following, typed at a root prompt:
:(){ :|:& };: This very handsome bunch of glyphs is also known as a bash "fork bomb": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fork_bomb#Bash Thus, a succinct description of how to limit processes is found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fork_bomb#Prevention It is entertaining reading... Regards, Flint On Fri, 15 Jun 2018, Michael MacIsaac wrote:
Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2018 09:03:35 -0400 From: Michael MacIsaac <mike99...@gmail.com> Reply-To: Linux on 390 Port <LINUX-390@VM.MARIST.EDU> To: LINUX-390@VM.MARIST.EDU Subject: ulimit -u value Hello list, I wrote a recursive function to log messages to one file from different systems. Something like: if on local system; then log to local file else log back to calling system But I had a bug where the local system thought it was remote so the else clause was executed on both sides. So system A called system B to log, which called system A, which called system B... In not too much time the stacks filled up and the system with the least free memory died. So then I read about ulimit -u to limit the number of processes that can be forked. On SLES the ulimit -u seems to be based on the amount of memory. Is there a way to have it set to a smaller, safer value? Has anyone addressed this issue to limit the damage dangerous programmers (such as myself :)) can do? Thanks. -- -Mike MacIsaac ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@vm.marist.edu with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information on Linux on System z, visit http://wiki.linuxvm.org/
Kindest Regards, ☮ Paul Flint (802) 479-2360 Home (802) 595-9365 Cell /************************************ Based upon email reliability concerns, please send an acknowledgement in response to this note. Paul Flint 17 Averill Street Barre, VT 05641 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@vm.marist.edu with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information on Linux on System z, visit http://wiki.linuxvm.org/