Sorry for the frequent updates - but I also found this : http://gnufreakz.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/increase-ulimit-in-centos/ which talks about setting “fs.file-max = 65536″ in sysctl.conf Does it have to be set in both sysctl.conf and the /etc/security/limits.conf? If so, why? thanks, -Alan -- “Don't eat anything you've ever seen advertised on TV” - Michael Pollan, author of "In Defense of Food"