DOCUMENT ID:  1232-02

SYNOPSIS:     Describes a memory leak bug present in semaphore services

OS RELEASE:   2.1

PRODUCT:      Solaris x86

KEYWORDS:     memory leak semaphore Oracle


DESCRIPTION:

Solaris 2.1 has a memory leak acquired from the SVR4 / Solaris
integration.  The semaphore support function is the culprit. 
Applications making heavy use of semaphores for example the Oracle SQL
product will loose several megabytes per day.  The system will become
very slow as it swaps to an untimely death. 


SOLUTION:

Several cures may be applied in order of preference:

1. Migrate to Solaris 2.4.

The complete memory management systems was replaced, fixing many major
memory related problems. 

2. Acquire a patch consisting of a new /usr/kernel/semsys file.
   As of this writing (10/94) no patch number has been assigned.

3. Monitor the loss of memory and reboot every few days.


DATE APPROVED: 09/28/95