---
title: Open file descriptors near limit
description: Describes what AutoOps detects and surfaces with the Open file descriptors near limit insight: Open file descriptors on the node are approaching the process or system limit.
url: https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/autoops-insights/tree/main/elasticsearch/open_file_descriptors_near_limit
products:
  - Elastic Cloud Enterprise
  - Elastic Cloud on Kubernetes
  - Elasticsearch
applies_to:
  - Elastic Cloud on Kubernetes: Generally available
  - Elastic Cloud Enterprise: Generally available
  - Self-managed Elastic deployments: Generally available
---

# Open file descriptors near limit
Open file descriptors on the node are approaching the process or system limit. Elasticsearch needs descriptors for open segments and connections.
<note>
  For a complete list of insights, refer to [AutoOps insights](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/autoops-insights/tree/main/elasticsearch).
</note>


## Insight details


| Field     | Value                           |
|-----------|---------------------------------|
| Component | Elasticsearch                   |
| Severity  | High                            |
| Scope     | Cluster                         |
| Domains   | resource-utilization, stability |


## Customization settings

You can customize these settings to adjust when AutoOps detects this event and presents the insight. Refer to [AutoOps event settings](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-content/tree/main/deploy-manage/monitor/autoops/ec-autoops-event-settings) for details.
The default customization settings are:

| Setting                                      | Type       | Default |
|----------------------------------------------|------------|---------|
| High open file descriptors threshold percent | Percentage | `80`    |


## Example: What you might see in AutoOps

The following is an example of what you might see when this insight is triggered. Real insights use live data and links from your deployment or cluster.

### Open file descriptors are about to reach the maximum value on the following nodes: es-data-01


#### What was detected

The open file descriptor count is 61200 of 65536 on es-data-01.

#### Recommendations

<note>
  AutoOps shows different recommendations depending on how their conditions match your deployment or cluster.
</note>

<dropdown title="Increase max file descriptors">
  **Condition**: Always shown for this insight.Set the open file descriptor limit for the Elasticsearch process user to 65,536 or later on the host OS. Use the action below to check `max_file_descriptors` on each node.
  ```json
  ```

  <note>
    Requires the `manage cluster` privilege. Requires Elasticsearch 8.0.0 or later. This action is read-only.
  </note>
</dropdown>


#### Background and impact

Elasticsearch keeps a file descriptor open for each segment file and network connection. When the process approaches the operating system limit, the node might fail to open new files or connections. That can destabilize the node and risk data loss if the process crashes or stops accepting requests.

## Guide

[Important system configuration](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-content/tree/main/deploy-manage/deploy/self-managed/important-system-configuration)