Apache Reference: http_core, RLimitNPROC

RLimitNPROC

Resource Limit on Number of Processes
Syntax: RLimitNPROC soft-processes [hard-processes]
Example: RLimitNPROC
Since: Apache 1.2

This directive sets the soft and hard limits for the maximum number of processes per user or user ID (UID). It takes one or two parameters. The first parameter sets the soft resource limit for all processes. The second parameter sets the maximum resource limit. Either parameter can be a number, or ``max'', which indicates to the server that the limit should match the maximum allowed by the operating system configuration. Raising the maximum resource limit requires the server to be running as ``root'' or in the initial start-up phase. If CGI processes are not running under UIDs other than the webserver UID, this directive will limit the number of processes that the server itself can create. This situation will be indicated by ``cannot fork'' messages in the error log file.