cron: b queue max run limit exceeded

[Derek E. Terveer]

> The max run limit message above is often printed on our system console
> along with a rescheduling message.  This is annoying since we run applications
> on the console.  (No flames on this please - our budget is tight.)
> 
> What causes this message?

This message is caused by having too many jobs scheduled to run in queue "b".
Its a warning only.

>			     Where does cron print it?  To cron's stderr?

Not sure -- guess it must print it to /dev/console...

> To /dev/console?  Is there a way to change the limit?

Yup -- edit your /usr/lib/cron/queuedefs file so that the line that begins with
a "b" has a bigger number than "2" in front of the "j".  This will be the
number of simultaneous jobs allowed.  Alternatively, you may define more queues
(up to 26, i believe) by defining more lines similar to the ones you will find
in that file.

hope this helps,