System Limits and problems with Open system files

[w1nn3r]

Ok, for the most part my server wasn't stressed much, it ran a large amount of bot's from the various users, but now i linked to a IRC network that is simply taxing my machine to a new degree and i'm having alot of problems with fds right now. So i wanted to change my limits a little and i used ulimit -n -s and -u to change(I think) my limits. But my problem is i've almost tripled my limits and i still get this error:

[root@minefields ircd]# passwd redrum
passwd: error while loading shared libraries: libuser.so.1: cannot open shared object file: Error 23

Now my question is, does ulimit -n -s or -u REALLY change these different limits, does the new limits take effect immediatly and will they remain when i reboot the OS? I expect to at least double my current userload and it might even triple and would like to head this off right now before i host a larger userbase. my current limits are as follows:

[root@minefields fs]# ulimit -a
core file size (blocks, -c) 0
data seg size (kbytes, -d) unlimited
file size (blocks, -f) unlimited
max locked memory (kbytes, -l) unlimited
max memory size (kbytes, -m) unlimited
open files (-n) 7000
pipe size (512 bytes, -p) 8
stack size (kbytes, -s) 32768
cpu time (seconds, -t) unlimited
max user processes (-u) 7000
virtual memory (kbytes, -v) unlimited

\* Side note
I am running apache with MySQL and PHP, 40+ eggdrops from different accounts, 4 ircd's, a counter strike server, and a few minor services so if you think i should raise something feel free to make a suggestion *\

 

[marsd]

I hope for god, jesus and the assorted saints that's not your real root password.
What were the symptoms of load you were having before that started you on the treacherous ulimit path?
There is nothing harder to tshoot then crap limits on
dynamic resources. Better to just let it ride and if you
die::loadbalance

 

[w1nn3r]

Actually, redrum is a user account, i was attempting to change the users passwd. I was fine, but if you've ever run an IRC server the more users you take on, the more load it is on the server(Obviously). And i fought a serious battle where i would compile the server for 2000 users and 20 mins later i'm recompiling for 3500, and 30 minutes later i'm recomiling AGAIN. And each time i modified the different limits via ulimit <switch> and it appeared to work, until i ran into a hard limit that i changed in /etc/sysctl.conf, but when i woke up, my limits were as follows from the previous limits:

[root@minefields services]# ulimit -a
core file size (blocks, -c) 0
data seg size (kbytes, -d) unlimited
file size (blocks, -f) unlimited
max locked memory (kbytes, -l) unlimited
max memory size (kbytes, -m) unlimited
open files (-n) 1024
pipe size (512 bytes, -p) 8
stack size (kbytes, -s) 8192
cpu time (seconds, -t) unlimited
max user processes (-u) 1791
virtual memory (kbytes, -v) unlimited

I'm sure there's a way to perm. modifiy these limits or save the previous limits, but the current limits simply wont do.

 

[marsd]

Yeah, My brain was frozen on the password thing..

You should probably check your cronjobs and see if anything
is resetting your ulimits.
Otherwise the file to edit is /etc/profile.

Good Luck