ulimit.2 (2010 09)

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ulimit(2) ulimit(2)
NAME
ulimit() - get and set user limits
SYNOPSIS
#include <ulimit.h>
long ulimit(int cmd, ...);
Remarks
The ANSI C ", ..." construct denotes a variable length argument list whose optional [or required]
members are given in the associated comment (
/* */).
DESCRIPTION
ulimit() provides for control over process limits. Available values for cmd are:
UL_GETFSIZE Get the file size limit of the process. The limit is in units of 512-byte blocks
and is inherited by child processes. Files of any size can be read. The
optional second argument is not used.
UL_SETFSIZE Set the file size limit of the process to the value of the optional second argu-
ment which is taken as a long. Any process can decrease this limit, but only a
process with the LIMIT privilege can increase the limit. Note that the limit
must be specified in units of 512-byte blocks.
UL_GETMAXBRK Get the maximum possible break value (see brk(2)). Depending on system
resources such as swap space, this maximum might not be attainable at a
given time. The optional second argument is not used.
Security Restrictions
Some or all of the actions associated with this system call require the
LIMIT privilege. Processes owned
by the superuser have this privilege. Processes owned by other users may have this privilege, depending
on system configuration. See privileges (5) for more information about privileged access on systems that
support fine-grained privileges.
RETURN VALUE
Upon successful completion, a non-negative value is returned. Errors return a −1, with
errno set to
indicate the error.
ERRORS
ulimit() fails if one or more of the following conditions is true.
[EINVAL] cmd is not in the correct range.
[EPERM]
ulimit() fails and the limit is unchanged if a process without the LIMIT
privilege attempts to increase its file size limit.
SEE ALSO
brk(2), write(2), privileges(5).
STANDARDS CONFORMANCE
ulimit(): AES, SVID2, SVID3, XPG2, XPG3, XPG4
HP-UX 11i Version 3: September 2010 − 1 − Hewlett-Packard Company 1