45.8. IPC Limits

Since System V IPC objects consume system resources, the kernel places various limits on each class of IPC object in order to prevent resources from being exhausted. The methods for placing limits on System V IPC objects are not specified by SUSv3, but most UNIX implementations (including Linux) follow a similar framework for the types of limits that may be placed. As we cover each System V IPC mechanism in the following chapters, we discuss the associated limits and note differences from other UNIX implementations.

Although the types of limits that can be placed on each class of IPC object are generally similar across various UNIX implementations, the methods of viewing and changing these limits are not. The methods described in the following chapters are Linux-specific (they generally involve the use of files in the /proc/sys/kernel directory); things are done differently on other implementations.