[Dovecot] Error: Maximum number of mail processes exceeded (see max_mail_processes setting)

[Stewart Dean]

Question: Do you have to have a radically greater setting for maildir 
than for mbox?  I would think...
What sort of values are people using with both formats?  Sounds like a 
nasty thing that could bite one in the $%# come migration from mbox to 
maildir

Frank Bonnet wrote:
>
> Jack Stewart wrote:
>> Frank Bonnet wrote:
>>> Hello
>>>
>>> I have this message repeated several times each *seconds* in 
>>> /var/log/dovecot/dovecot.log
>>>
>>> the  max_mail_processes is set to 8192 and I can see an average of 
>>> 500 imap processes
>>> on the machine , I think there is a problem somewhere ...
>>>
>>> Debian 64 bits , IBM X3650 biproc , 7 Gb RAM , RAID5 disks , 2 
>>> ethernet Gb ports bonded.
>>>
>>> Dovecot 1.1.11 has been compiled from scratch on the machine
>>>
>>> Thanks for any info.
>>>
>>
>> Hi Frank,
>>
>> Your system is plenty powerful - no issues there.
>>
>> What are your settings in the init script? I found that putting in a 
>> ulimit -n 8192 and ulimit -f 16384 prior to invoking dovecot was 
>> worthwhile on my system.
>>
>> I would first try tweaking these settings in a root shell and then 
>> invoke  dovecot with a -c conf make sure it is picking up the right 
>> conf file.
>>
>> I'm sure the list will ask for the dovecot -n -c ... output as well.
>>
>> ---Jack
>
> Bingo ! since the begining I was modifying the wrong configuration 
> file ....
>
> now everything is clear , when I modified the right file the OS instant
> write to the shell I haven't enough file descriptors ...
>
> Shame on me and thanks a lot Jack !
>
> Frank

-- 
==== Once upon a time, the Internet was a friendly, 
neighbors-helping-neighbors small town, and no one locked their doors. 
Now it's like an apartment in Bed-Stuy: you need three heavy duty 
pick-proof locks, one of those braces that goes from the lock to the 
floor, and bars on the windows.... ==== Stewart Dean, Unix System Admin, 
Bard College, New York 12504 sdean at bard.edu voice: 845-758-7475, fax: 
845-758-7035