thunderbird crashes because it hits max open files

[Claire Newman]

My thunderbird crashes whenever I try to use it because it tries to open more than 1024 files. I've confirmed this in /proc/$pid/fd/ and tested with '-safe-mode'. I have 1000 .msf files.

[Claire Newman (claire-newman)]

Sorry, this is with an up-to-date Ubuntu 12.04 running thunderbird 14.0+build1-0ubuntu0.12.04.1

[Claire Newman (claire-newman)]

And for final confirmation, I replaced /usr/lib/thunderbird/thunderbird.sh with a wrapper which runs 'ulimit -n 4096' and then execs the original shellscript and thunderbird works again.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Chris Coulson (chrisccoulson)]

Thanks, but how do you have that many summary files? Do you really have that many folders (or is something else broken)?

[James Troup (elmo)]

Chris Coulson <email address hidden> writes:

> Thanks, but how do you have that many summary files? Do you really
> have that many folders (or is something else broken)?

Claire simply does have that many mail folders. As part of her
executive administrator role her Thunderbird is configured to see other
people's mail, not just her own. Additionally, some of those other
accounts have filing/foldering systems that would help to account for
the 1000 .msf files, e.g. one mail folder per sending company.

[FAOD, I filed the bug on Claire's behalf (from her laptop) and I'm
 replying because I know she's unlikely to pay much attention to LP bug
 mail.]

--
James