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Resolving Too Many Open Files Error on LiteSpeed Web Server

This article explains what a file descriptor is, its role in Linux systems, and how it ensures efficient file handling and data integrity. It also covers the “Too Many Open Files” error, its common causes, and provides a detailed step-by-step procedure to resolve the issue, helping maintain system stability and performance.

What is a File Descriptor?

Files and directories are identified at the system level by a file descriptor. With the goal to ensure effective retrieval, it controls file creation, access, and memory storage. Particularly in transactional and journaling file systems, file descriptors are crucial for data integrity and file system operations, improving system performance and dependability.

What is the “Too Many Open Files” Error Message?

The system hitting the maximum number of permitted open file handles may result in this error. It can also be caused by file descriptor leaks, in which the application keeps failing even though the ulimit for open files is set high enough because of unclosed or leaking file descriptors.

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Causes of the Error

There are several reasons why the “Too Many Open Files” issue may occur. A slow accumulation of open files may result from ineffective resource management, where programs or scripts fail to release file descriptors correctly. When operating numerous processes at once or under high stress, system-imposed limits may also be violated. Furthermore, certain programs may contain vulnerabilities that result in file descriptor leaks, which progressively deplete system resources and create this error.

Procedure to Fix the Error

1: Login as Root
Access your server as the root user.

2: Edit limits.conf
Open /etc/security/limits.conf and append the following:

* soft nproc 327680

* hard nproc 655350

* soft nofile 327680

* hard nofile 655350

root soft nproc 327680

root hard nproc 655350

root soft nofile 327680

root hard nofile 655350

@someuser soft nproc 327680

@someuser hard nproc 655350

@someuser soft nofile 327680

@someuser hard nofile 655350

Replace @someuser with the Linux user your website uses.

3: Edit sysctl.conf
Open /etc/sysctl.conf and append:

fs.file-max = 655350

fs.nr_open = 655350

net.core.netdev_max_backlog = 131070

net.core.somaxconn = 655350

net.ipv4.tcp_max_syn_backlog = 3240000

net.ipv4.tcp_max_tw_buckets = 1440000

net.ipv4.tcp_window_scaling = 1

vm.swappiness = 30

Apply the changes with:

sysctl -p

4: Update Systemd Service Limits
Create a file /etc/systemd/system/lsws.service.d/override.conf with:

[Service]

LimitNOFILE=5000000

Reload daemons and restart LSWS:

systemctl daemon-reload && systemctl restart lsws

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Conclusion

The “Too many open files error on LiteSpeed Web Server” occurs when the system exceeds the allowed file descriptors, often due to high traffic, resource-heavy applications, or unclosed file handles. By adjusting system limits, updating configurations, and monitoring resource usage, you can prevent this error and ensure stable server performance.

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