Hi, by default the limit for max_threads is such that the system will try to allocate up to half the physical memory in task_structs. Because for each 8kB task struct we'll often want a struct_mm, a page directory, 3 page tables and some more structures, this means that a fork bomb will leave the box DEAD with root never ever getting a chance of using his reserved tasks and killing the bad user. The patch below adjusts the max_threads calculation to something which should be more sane, though quite possibly still to high... Please apply for the next -pre kernel. thanks, Rik -- http://www.surriel.com/ http://distro.conectiva.com/ --- linux-2.4.6-pre3/kernel/fork.c.orig Sun Jun 17 20:45:54 2001 +++ linux-2.4.6-pre3/kernel/fork.c Sun Jun 17 23:07:20 2001 @@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ * value: the thread structures can take up at most half * of memory. */ - max_threads = mempages / (THREAD_SIZE/PAGE_SIZE) / 2; + max_threads = mempages / (THREAD_SIZE/PAGE_SIZE) / 16; init_task.rlim[RLIMIT_NPROC].rlim_cur = max_threads/2; init_task.rlim[RLIMIT_NPROC].rlim_max = max_threads/2; - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/
