Issue - MacOS file limits

FeatureBase Community may exceed open file limits because:

the database may be split into a large number of files
these files may be open simultaneously.

Possible cause

Maximum file limits may be set incorrectly:

in featurebase.conf
for the current session
for persistent sessions

Solution - Persistent change to open file limit

Setup your system to run the launchctl limit... command on startup.

Step 1 - Disable SIP

Enter recovery mode by restarting MacOS while holding down CMD + R
Open a CLI then run the following command:

csrutil disable

Restart MacOS

Step 2 - Create new `LaunchDaemons` files

New LaunchDaemon files can be setup to increase file limits.

Open a CLI then CD to /Library/LaunchDaemons/
Create a new file limit.maxfiles.plist
Paste the following XML to the file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
  <dict>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>limit.maxfiles</string>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
      <string>launchctl</string>
      <string>limit</string>
      <string>maxfiles</string>
      <string>262144</string>
      <string>262144</string>
    </array>
    <key>RunAtLoad</key>
    <true/>
    <key>ServiceIPC</key>
    <false/>
  </dict>
</plist>

Save the file.

Step 3 - change ownership and tell system to run the file

Run the following command to change ownership of the file:

chown root:wheel /Library/LaunchDaemons/limit.maxfiles.plist

Run the following launchd command to launch the file at startup:

launchctl load -w /Library/LaunchDaemons/limit.maxfiles.plist

Step 4 - Verify file limit has been changed

Run the following command:

launchctl limit maxfiles

Step 5 - Turn SIP back on

Open Recovery Mode by restarting MacOS whilst pressing CMD + R
Open a CLI and run the following command:

csrutil enable

Restart MacOS