Re: [cobalt-users] FW: Raq2 POP3 server error

["Larry E. Smith" <lesmith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Wed, Oct 31, 2001 at 02:04:22PM -0500, Keith Charlton wrote:
> 
> We have been experiencing a POP3 sever error on one of our RaQ2 machines
> whereby all users are rejected for user name and password error. A reboot of
> the machine takes care of the issue, but it now takes place every couple of
> hours. Has anyone experienced this problem and did you come up with a
> resolution.? You may reply to kcharlton@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> 

Keith,

  What you might be running into is the "maximum" port connection
  "bug" that all Linux systems have.  If a particular port sees
  more than a certain number of connections in a relative period
  (cannot remember the specs), inetd will "shutdown" access to
  the port for about five minutes, then restart the service.

  Background to this I believe has to do with the possibility of
  a port being "probed" or a run-away process.

  You should be able to ADD to the number of pop processes the
  inetd daemon will support by editing your /etc/inetd.conf file
  and modifying such as:

  MY ORIGINAL:

  pop-3   stream  tcp     nowait  root    /usr/sbin/tcpd in.qpopper -R

  MY MODIFIED:

  pop-3   stream  tcp     nowait.400  root    /usr/sbin/tcpd in.qpopper -R

  Which basically says "allow up to 400 connections per minute
  (or whatever time frame) before locking the port.....

  Hope this helps.

Larry Smith
SysAd ECSIS.NET
sysad@xxxxxxxxx