unable to understand the output of TRUSS command

UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users
1

Hi,

I am trying to set ulimit for soft stack unlimited, but this is not taking effect, after tracing the ulimit -a unlimited command, the below output was generated, which i am unable to comprehend. Could any one help me with this?

prcbap1-r10prod: truss -d ulimit -s unlimited  
Tue Dec 30 17:24:52 2014
0.0000:        execve("/tafc/R10/bin/ulimit", 0x2FF21CC4, 0x200130A8) Err#2  ENOENT
0.0159:        execve("/usr/java6_64/bin/ulimit", 0x2FF21CC4, 0x200130A8) Err#2  ENOENT
0.0165:        execve("/usr/java6_64/jre/bin/ulimit", 0x2FF21CC4, 0x200130A8) Err#2  ENOENT
0.0170:        execve("/usr/java6_64/jre/bin/classic/ulimit", 0x2FF21CC4, 0x200130A8) Err#2  ENOENT
0.0174:        execve("/tafc/R10/XMLORACLE/bin/ulimit", 0x2FF21CC4, 0x200130A8) Err#2  ENOENT
0.0180:        execve("/usr/java6_64/bin/ulimit", 0x2FF21CC4, 0x200130A8) Err#2  ENOENT
0.0185:        execve("/tafc/R10/bin/ulimit", 0x2FF21CC4, 0x200130A8) Err#2  ENOENT
0.0189:        execve("/usr/bin/ulimit", 0x2FF21CC4, 0x200130A8)  argc: 4
0.0208:        sbrk(0x00000000)                 = 0x2000F0A8
0.0210:        vmgetinfo(0x2FF20DB0, 7, 16)     = 0
0.0211:        sbrk(0x00000000)                 = 0x2000F0A8
0.0213:        sbrk(0x00000008)                 = 0x2000F0A8
0.0215:        __libc_sbrk(0x00000000)          = 0x2000F0B0
0.0217:        getuidx(4)                       = 500
0.0218:        getuidx(2)                       = 500
0.0219:        getuidx(1)                       = 500
0.0221:        getgidx(4)                       = 204
0.0222:        getgidx(2)                       = 204
0.0223:        getgidx(1)                       = 204
0.0224:        __loadx(0x01480080, 0x2FF20770, 0x00000A50, 0x2FF212E0, 0x2FF22DD1) = 0xD0539128
0.0227:        __loadx(0x01480180, 0x2FF20770, 0x00000A50, 0xF10B20F8, 0xF10B2028) = 0xF11A1E20
0.0232:        __loadx(0x07080000, 0xF10B20C8, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xF11A1E20, 0x00000003) = 0xF11A2DBC
0.0233:        __loadx(0x07080000, 0xF10B2008, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xF11A1E20, 0x00000003) = 0xF11A2DC8
0.0235:        __loadx(0x07080000, 0xF10B20D8, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xF11A1E20, 0x00000003) = 0xF11A2DF8
0.0237:        __loadx(0x07080000, 0xF10B2018, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xF11A1E20, 0x00000003) = 0xF11A2E04
0.0238:        __loadx(0x07080000, 0xF10B2098, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xF11A1E20, 0x00000003) = 0xF11A2DD4
0.0240:        __loadx(0x07080000, 0xF10B2038, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xF11A1E20, 0x00000003) = 0xF11A2DEC
0.0242:        __loadx(0x07080000, 0xF10B20A8, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xF11A1E20, 0x00000003) = 0xF11A2E10
0.0243:        __loadx(0x07080000, 0xF10B20B8, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xF11A1E20, 0x00000003) = 0xF11A2E40
0.0245:        __loadx(0x07080000, 0xF10B2048, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xF11A1E20, 0x00000003) = 0xF11A2E28
0.0247:        __loadx(0x07080000, 0xF10B2058, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xF11A1E20, 0x00000003) = 0xF11A2EA0
0.0248:        getuidx(4)                       = 500
0.0249:        getuidx(2)                       = 500
0.0251:        getuidx(1)                       = 500
0.0252:        getgidx(4)                       = 204
0.0253:        getgidx(2)                       = 204
0.0254:        getgidx(1)                       = 204
0.0255:        __loadx(0x01480080, 0x2FF20770, 0x00000A50, 0x2FF212E0, 0x2FF22DD1) = 0xD0539128
0.0257:        getuidx(4)                       = 500
0.0258:        getuidx(2)                       = 500
0.0259:        getuidx(1)                       = 500
0.0261:        getgidx(4)                       = 204
0.0262:        getgidx(2)                       = 204
0.0263:        getgidx(1)                       = 204
0.0264:        __loadx(0x01480080, 0x2FF20770, 0x00000A50, 0x2FF212E0, 0x2FF22DD1) = 0xD0539128
0.0266:        getuidx(4)                       = 500
0.0267:        getuidx(2)                       = 500
0.0269:        getuidx(1)                       = 500
0.0270:        getgidx(4)                       = 204
0.0271:        getgidx(2)                       = 204
0.0272:        getgidx(1)                       = 204
0.0273:        __loadx(0x01480080, 0x2FF20770, 0x00000A50, 0x2FF212E0, 0x2FF22DD1) = 0xD0539128
0.0275:        getuidx(4)                       = 500
0.0277:        getuidx(2)                       = 500
0.0278:        getuidx(1)                       = 500
0.0279:        getgidx(4)                       = 204
0.0281:        getgidx(2)                       = 204
0.0282:        getgidx(1)                       = 204
0.0283:        __loadx(0x01480080, 0x2FF20770, 0x00000A50, 0x2FF212E0, 0x2FF22DD1) = 0xD0539128
0.0285:        getuidx(4)                       = 500
0.0287:        getuidx(2)                       = 500
0.0288:        getuidx(1)                       = 500
0.0289:        getgidx(4)                       = 204
0.0290:        getgidx(2)                       = 204
0.0291:        getgidx(1)                       = 204
0.0293:        __loadx(0x01480080, 0x2FF20770, 0x00000A50, 0x2FF212E0, 0x2FF22DD1) = 0xD0539128
0.0295:        access("/usr/lib/nls/msg/en_US/ksh.cat", 0) = 0
0.0299:        _getpid()                        = 31326460
0.0301:        kopen("/usr/lib/nls/msg/en_US/ksh.cat", O_RDONLY) = 5
0.0303:        kioctl(5, 22528, 0x00000000, 0x00000000) Err#25 ENOTTY
0.0304:        kfcntl(5, F_SETFD, 0x00000001)   = 0
0.0306:        kioctl(5, 22528, 0x00000000, 0x00000000) Err#25 ENOTTY
kread(5, "\0\001 �\001\001 I S O 8".., 4096)    = 4096
0.0309:        lseek(5, 0, 1)                   = 4096
0.0310:        lseek(5, 0, 1)                   = 4096
0.0311:        lseek(5, 0, 1)                   = 4096
0.0313:        _getpid()                        = 31326460
0.0314:        lseek(5, 0, 1)                   = 4096
0.0316:        lseek(5, 4736, 0)                = 4736
kread(5, " 0 4 0 3 - 0 6 5   A n  ".., 4096)    = 1139
0.0318:        kfcntl(5, F_DUPFD, 0x0000000A)   = 10
0.0320:        close(5)                         = 0
0.0321:        kfcntl(10, F_SETFD, 0x00000001)  = 0
0.0324:        __libc_sbrk(0x00000000)          = 0x2001F0C0
0.0329:        __libc_sbrk(0x00000000)          = 0x2005F0D0
0.0331:        fstatx(2, 0x2FF21A10, 76, 0)     = 0
0.0332:        fstatx(1, 0x2FF21A10, 76, 0)     = 0
0.0333:        fstatx(0, 0x2FF21A10, 76, 0)     = 0
0.0335:        getuidx(2)                       = 500
0.0337:        getuidx(1)                       = 500
0.0338:        getgidx(2)                       = 204
0.0339:        getgidx(1)                       = 204
0.0340:        _sigaction(6, 0x00000000, 0x2FF21920) = 0
0.0342:        _sigaction(6, 0x2FF21920, 0x2FF21930) = 0
0.0343:        _sigaction(14, 0x00000000, 0x2FF21920) = 0
0.0344:        _sigaction(14, 0x2FF21920, 0x2FF21930) = 0
0.0346:        _sigaction(10, 0x00000000, 0x2FF21920) = 0
0.0347:        _sigaction(10, 0x2FF21920, 0x2FF21930) = 0
0.0348:        _sigaction(20, 0x00000000, 0x2FF21920) = 0
0.0349:        _sigaction(20, 0x2FF21920, 0x2FF21930) = 0
0.0351:        _sigaction(7, 0x00000000, 0x2FF21920) = 0
0.0352:        _sigaction(7, 0x2FF21920, 0x2FF21930) = 0
0.0353:        _sigaction(8, 0x00000000, 0x2FF21920) = 0
0.0354:        _sigaction(8, 0x2FF21920, 0x2FF21930) = 0
0.0355:        _sigaction(1, 0x00000000, 0x2FF21920) = 0
0.0357:        _sigaction(1, 0x2FF21920, 0x2FF21930) = 0
0.0358:        _sigaction(4, 0x00000000, 0x2FF21920) = 0
0.0359:        _sigaction(4, 0x2FF21920, 0x2FF21930) = 0
0.0361:        _sigaction(2, 0x00000000, 0x2FF218D0) = 0
0.0385:        _sigaction(2, 0x2FF218D0, 0x2FF218E0) = 0
0.0432:        _sigaction(13, 0x00000000, 0x2FF21920) = 0
0.0544:        _sigaction(13, 0x2FF21920, 0x2FF21930) = 0
0.0672:        _sigaction(13, 0x00000000, 0x2FF218E0) = 0
0.0677:        _sigaction(13, 0x2FF218E0, 0x2FF218F0) = 0
0.0681:        _sigaction(3, 0x00000000, 0x2FF218E0) = 0
0.0684:        _sigaction(3, 0x2FF218E0, 0x2FF218F0) = 0
0.0687:        _sigaction(12, 0x00000000, 0x2FF21920) = 0
0.0690:        _sigaction(12, 0x2FF21920, 0x2FF21930) = 0
0.0692:        _sigaction(15, 0x00000000, 0x2FF21920) = 0
0.0695:        _sigaction(15, 0x2FF21920, 0x2FF21930) = 0
0.0698:        _sigaction(5, 0x00000000, 0x2FF21920) = 0
0.0700:        _sigaction(5, 0x2FF21920, 0x2FF21930) = 0
0.0703:        _sigaction(30, 0x00000000, 0x2FF21920) = 0
0.0706:        _sigaction(30, 0x2FF21920, 0x2FF21930) = 0
0.0709:        _sigaction(31, 0x00000000, 0x2FF21920) = 0
0.0711:        _sigaction(31, 0x2FF21920, 0x2FF21930) = 0
0.0714:        _sigaction(25, 0x00000000, 0x2FF218E0) = 0
0.0717:        _sigaction(25, 0x2FF218E0, 0x2FF218F0) = 0
0.0720:        kioctl(2, 21522, 0x2FF21B18, 0x00000000) Err#1  EPERM
0.0726:        statx("/r10prod/t24/nbf/bnk/bnk.run", 0x2FF218A0, 176, 020) = 0
0.0729:        statx(".", 0x2FF21950, 176, 020) = 0
0.0732:        _getpid()                        = 31326460
0.0736:        _getppid()                       = 21823624
0.0739:        statx("/usr/bin/ulimit", 0x2FF219E8, 76, 0) = 0
0.0742:        kopen("/usr/bin/ulimit", O_RDONLY) = 5
0.0745:        close(62)                        Err#9  EBADF
0.0749:        kfcntl(5, F_DUPFD, 0x0000003E)   = 62
0.0752:        close(5)                         = 0
0.0755:        kfcntl(62, F_SETFD, 0x00000001)  = 0
0.0758:        kfcntl(62, F_GETFL, 0x00000000)  = 0
0.0761:        lseek(62, 0, 1)                  = 0
0.0764:        kioctl(62, 22528, 0x00000000, 0x00000000) Err#25 ENOTTY
kread(62, " # ! / u s r / b i n / p".., 4096)   = 1457
0.0772:        pipe(0x2FF1F478)                 = 0
0.0776:        kfork()                          = 37552278
    Received signal #20, SIGCHLD [caught]
0.0822:        ksetcontext_sigreturn(0x2FF1ED90, 0x20008DF8, 0x00000001, 0x200095F8, 0x00100000, 0x0000D032, 0x821B7C00, 0x2FF46F20)
0.0825:        sigprocmask(2, 0x2FF1F150, 0x00000000) = 0
0.0828:        sigprocmask(1, 0x2FF1F150, 0x00000000) = 0
0.0830:        _sigaction(20, 0x00000000, 0x2FF1F020) = 0
0.0834:        _sigaction(20, 0x2FF1F020, 0x2FF1F030) = 0
0.0838:        kwaitpid(0x2FF1F090, -1, 6, 0x00000000, 0x00000000) = 37552278
0.0842:        kwaitpid(0x2FF1F090, -1, 7, 0x00000000, 0x00000000) Err#10 ECHILD
0.0846:        _sigaction(20, 0x00000000, 0x2FF1F020) = 0
0.0850:        _sigaction(20, 0x2FF1F020, 0x2FF1F030) = 0
0.0854:        close(6)                         = 0
0.0859:        kfcntl(5, F_GETFL, 0x00000000)   = 0
0.0863:        lseek(5, 0, 1)                   Err#29 ESPIPE
0.0868:        kioctl(5, 22528, 0x00000000, 0x00000000) Err#25 ENOTTY
0.0873:        _sigaction(20, 0x00000000, 0x2FF1E1D0) = 0
0.0876:        _sigaction(20, 0x2FF1E1D0, 0x2FF1E1E0) = 0
0.0881:        kwaitpid(0x2FF1E240, -1, 7, 0x00000000, 0x00000000) Err#10 ECHILD
0.0885:        _sigaction(20, 0x00000000, 0x2FF1E1D0) = 0
0.0889:        _sigaction(20, 0x2FF1E1D0, 0x2FF1E1E0) = 0
kread(5, " u l i m i t\n\0\0\0\0\0".., 4096)    = 7
0.0895:        _sigaction(20, 0x00000000, 0x2FF1E1D0) = 0
0.0898:        _sigaction(20, 0x2FF1E1D0, 0x2FF1E1E0) = 0
0.0900:        kwaitpid(0x2FF1E240, -1, 7, 0x00000000, 0x00000000) Err#10 ECHILD
0.0903:        _sigaction(20, 0x00000000, 0x2FF1E1D0) = 0
0.0906:        _sigaction(20, 0x2FF1E1D0, 0x2FF1E1E0) = 0
kread(5, " u l i m i t\n\0\0\0\0\0".., 4096)    = 0
0.0914:        _sigaction(20, 0x00000000, 0x2FF1F340) = 0
0.0918:        _sigaction(20, 0x2FF1F340, 0x2FF1F350) = 0
0.0923:        close(5)                         = 0
0.0928:        getrlimit64(3, 0x2FF21018)       = 0
0.0931:        setrlimit64(3, 0x2FF21018)       = 0
kread(62, " # ! / u s r / b i n / p".., 4096)   = 0
0.0938:        _exit(0)
2

With more truss optiions like '-rall -wall -xall' you get full data of what it read, which might tell why it never wrote.

The juice is in the 'setrlimit64(3, 0x2FF21018) = 0', a call described under getrlimit() (the suffix 64 is for 32 bit programs reworked to access large files >4GB).

http://www.unix.com/apropos-man/All/0/getrlimit/
LINUX Man Pages and LINUX Commands at the UNIX and Linux Forums

3

When you run "ulimit" from the command line, you're normally running a shell built-in, and thus showing or changing the limits of the running shell.

When you run "ulimit" under truss, you're running a separate process - usually "/usr/bin/ulimit" - but your PATH envval can change that - and you're displaying or modifying the limits of the subprocess. Those changes are lost when the subprocess exits.