[asterisk-users] Asterisk 1.6 produces *many* zombie processes on Debian.

[Ernie Dunbar]

We have an issue with our Asterisk install where Asterisk produces many
Zombie processes (on the order of several hundred per minute) until either
the Asterisk server is restarted (and the zombies die a natural death), or
the kernel runs out of PID space (happens within hours) and brings the
system to a halt.

This problem only happens when the server is under some non-trivial load.
We were testing this server with 8 SCCP phones, making up to five
simultaneous calls through the DAHDI interface (a Digium Wildcard
TE410P/TE405P (1st Gen)). Once our customers (nearly all SIP clients)
start logging on and we get around 7 or 8 simultaneous DAHDI calls,
Asterisk starts producing zombie processes at a high rate.

We are using the following software:

Debian Lenny 5.0
Asterisk 1.6.2.15
`dahdi show version`: DAHDI Version: 2.4.0 Echo Canceller: MG2
Libpri 1.4.11.4

A2Billing is also installed on this server, if that matters at all.

Any help with this issue, including help in troubleshooting the cause, is
highly appreciated.