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How To Fix W/168 - Maximum number of processes must be greater than 0


SAP Error Message - Details

  • Message type: E = Error

  • Message class: W/ -

  • Message number: 168

  • Message text: Maximum number of processes must be greater than 0

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  • Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

  • What is the cause and solution for SAP error message W/168 - Maximum number of processes must be greater than 0 ?

    The SAP error message:

    W/168 Maximum number of processes must be greater than 0


    Cause:

    This warning message occurs when the system parameter that controls the maximum number of work processes is set to zero or a negative value. In SAP, the maximum number of work processes must be a positive integer greater than zero. If it is set to zero or less, the system cannot allocate any work processes, which leads to this warning.

    Typically, this parameter is:

    • rdisp/wp_max_no — Maximum number of work processes.

    If this parameter is incorrectly set to 0 or a negative number, SAP raises this warning.


    Solution:

    1. Check the parameter value:

      • Go to transaction RZ10 (Edit Profile Parameters) or RZ11 (Display Profile Parameter).
      • Look for the parameter rdisp/wp_max_no.
      • Verify its current value.
    2. Set a valid value:

      • The value must be a positive integer, typically between 2 and 128 depending on your system size and workload.
      • For example, set rdisp/wp_max_no = 10 (or an appropriate number based on your system sizing).
    3. Apply the change:

      • If you changed the parameter in RZ10, save and activate the profile.
      • Restart the SAP instance for the parameter change to take effect.
    4. Verify:

      • After restart, check the system log (transaction SM21) or system status to confirm the warning no longer appears.
      • Also, verify the number of work processes in transaction SM50.

    Related Information:

    • Parameter rdisp/wp_max_no: Controls the maximum number of dialog work processes.
    • Other related parameters:
      • rdisp/wp_no_dia — Number of dialog work processes.
      • rdisp/wp_no_btc — Number of background work processes.
    • Setting this parameter too low can cause system performance issues because there will be insufficient work processes to handle user requests.
    • Setting it too high can consume excessive system resources.
    • Always size the number of work processes according to your system workload and hardware capacity.

    Summary:

    Aspect Details
    Error message W/168 Maximum number of processes must be greater than 0
    Cause Parameter rdisp/wp_max_no set to 0 or negative value
    Solution Set rdisp/wp_max_no to a positive integer > 0 in RZ10, then restart SAP instance
    Related info Check other work process parameters; size according to workload

    If you need help determining the optimal number of work processes, SAP notes and sizing guides can provide recommendations based on your system type and usage.

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