Memcached is a high-performance, distributed memory object caching system. It is used to speed up dynamic web applications by alleviating database load. Memcached stores data in memory, reducing the time it takes to retrieve data from a database or other storage systems. It is widely used in web applications to improve performance and scalability.
When using Memcached, you might encounter the error message: SERVER_ERROR failed to fork process. This error indicates that the server was unable to create a new process, which is necessary for handling requests or performing certain operations.
The error message 'failed to fork process' typically occurs when the system is unable to create a new process. This can happen due to insufficient system resources, such as memory or process limits being reached. Forking is a common operation in Unix-like systems where a process creates a copy of itself. If the system is constrained, this operation can fail.
First, ensure that your system has sufficient resources. You can check memory usage with the following command:
free -m
This command will display the amount of free and used memory in the system. If memory is low, consider closing unnecessary applications or increasing the system's RAM.
Check the current process limits using the ulimit command:
ulimit -a
If the number of processes is limited, you can increase it by editing the /etc/security/limits.conf file. Add or modify the following lines:
* soft nproc 4096
* hard nproc 8192
After making changes, log out and log back in for the changes to take effect.
Ensure that Memcached is configured correctly. Check the Memcached configuration file, usually located at /etc/memcached.conf. Look for any settings that might limit the number of processes or memory usage.
After making the necessary adjustments, restart the Memcached service to apply changes:
sudo systemctl restart memcached
Verify that the service is running without errors:
sudo systemctl status memcached
For more information on managing system resources and process limits, you can refer to the following resources:
Let Dr. Droid create custom investigation plans for your infrastructure.
Book Demo
