Re: [ccp4bb] Acorn question

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CCP4bb <-- 1999 <-- November 1999 <-- 30 November 1999

Previous message:
Subject: Re: Na Acetate Buffer
From: "R {- dot -} M {- dot -} Garavito" garavito {- at -} MSU {- dot -} EDU
Date: 2008-07-23

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Subject: Re: Using multiple crystals for structure solution in P1 using MAD/SAS/SAD
From: "George M {- dot -} Sheldrick" gsheldr {- at -} SHELX {- dot -} UNI-AC {- dot -} GWDG {- dot -} DE
Date: 2008-07-23

Subject: Re: Acorn question
From: Peter Keller pkeller {- at -} GLOBALPHASING {- dot -} COM
Date: 2008-07-23

On Wed, 23 Jul 2008, mjvdwoerd@NETSCAPE.NET wrote:

> All,
>
> In the past couple of days I have been trying to use Acorn (in the CCP4 suite of programs).
> Consistently it starts up fine and after some small amount of time (5-10 minutes) it has taken up
> all the physical memory and then it starts to slowly gobble up all the swap space until the only
> option is to switch the computer off, since all processes (including X and such) are being pushed
> out of memory and they somehow are not swapped back in.
>
> Is there a way to restrict the amount of memory that Acorn is allowed to use? Any other
> suggestions? Parameters to restrict memory I do not see and the Acorn web page does also not
> mention that they exist, neither does it have any suggestions what to do.

If you want a fallback to stop Acorn crashing your system, you can use
kernel-managed resource limits. These are controlled by shell built-in
commands. If you are using csh/tcsh, the command is 'limit'; if you are using
sh/ksh/bash, the command is 'ulimit'. See the 'man' page for the particular
shell for details.

Use 'limit' on its own (csh family), or 'ulimit -a' (sh family) to see the
current limits. If memory-related ones are high or unlimited, you can try
restricting them.

Be aware though, that if Acorn exceeds these limits it will simply crash. If
the resource limit 'coredumpsize' is unlimited, the resulting core file will
be big. This is something of a last resort to protect your system of course,
and not a substitute for getting Acorn to run properly.

Good luck,
Peter.

--
Peter Keller Tel.: +44 (0)1223 353033
Global Phasing Ltd., Fax.: +44 (0)1223 366889
Sheraton House,
Castle Park,
Cambridge CB3 0AX
United Kingdom

CCP4bb navigation

CCP4bb <-- 1999 <-- November 1999 <-- 30 November 1999

Previous message:
Subject: Re: Na Acetate Buffer
From: "R {- dot -} M {- dot -} Garavito" garavito {- at -} MSU {- dot -} EDU
Date: 2008-07-23