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Informix Error -3050

-3050 Operating system error. Cannot open a temporary file.

PERFORM is trying to open a temporary file that it created earlier. Look for operating-system error messages that might give more information. Possibly you have exceeded a limit on the number of open files. If the error recurs, note all circumstances and contact IBM Informix Technical Support.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-3050 fires when PERFORM can't reopen a temporary file it created earlier — per the official guidance, this is likely due to an operating-system-level issue, possibly an open-file-count limit being exceeded.

  1. An operating-system-level failure reopening the temporary file, per the official guidance — the direct cause.
  2. The account's open-file-count limit was exceeded, per the official guidance — one possible reason for the failure.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Look for operating-system error messages that might give more information, per the official guidance.
  2. Check whether an open-file limit has been exceeded, per the official guidance.
  3. If the error recurs, note all circumstances and contact IBM Informix Technical Support, per the official guidance.
Examples
Checking the open-file limit
ulimit -n
Diagnostic Checks
  1. Check the account's open-file limit (ulimit -n) against how many files are currently open, and review surrounding operating-system log messages.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -3060 — "Operating system error. Cannot create a temporary file." A closely related temporary-file error, about failing to create the file in the first place rather than failing to reopen one already created.

PERFORM couldn't reopen a previously-created temporary file — check the open-file limit and surrounding OS error messages.