Error Message: gma_morecore_shm->shmget: Invalid argument

ID: Q192313

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.01 for UNIX on Sun Solaris
Microsoft Outlook Express version 4.01 for UNIX on Sun Solaris

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to install Internet Explorer or Outlook Express for UNIX on Sun Solaris, you may receive the following error message:

   gma_morecore_shm->shmget: Invalid argument.

CAUSE

This error message occurs when the installation program is unable to obtain enough shared memory to complete the installation.

RESOLUTION

Edit the /etc/system file to increase the shared memory segment size and then restart the computer for the change to take effect.

NOTE: Changes to this file affect all programs. If the shared memory segment size is currently set to another value using the /etc/system file, another program may require the current value. Back up the original file to another location before making changes so that the original settings can be restored if necessary.

MORE INFORMATION

To check the shared memory settings, run the sysdef program. You should see a section similar to the following sample section near the end of the output:

   *
   * IPC Shared Memory
   *
   1024000 max shared memory segment size (SHMMAX)
        1  min shared memory segment size (SHMMIN)
      100  shared memory identifiers (SHMMNI)
       32  max attached shm segments per process (SHMSEG)

The SHMMAX setting needs to be at least 1024000 (one megabyte [MB]). On heavily loaded computers, the setting may need to be increased to up to 2048000 (two MB). The setting does not have to be an exact power of two.

Additional query words:

Keywords          : kbenv kberrmsg kbsetup msieunix outexunix 
Version           : UNIX:4.01
Platform          : UNIX
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: September 14, 1998