# Mongrel timeout error

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/mongrel-timeout-error/196879>\
**Category:** Mongrel\
**Created:** [January 15, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/mongrel-timeout-error/196879 "2009-01-15T03:15:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![harpoon45](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/53a042/32.png) [@harpoon45](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/harpoon45)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/mongrel-timeout-error/196879/1 "2009-01-15T03:15:53Z")

</div>

My mongrel cluster seems to have some weird issues. Anyone here with  
some insight into whats going on?

Tue Jan 13 09:36:34 -0800 2009: Reaping 7 threads for slow workers  
because of ‘shutdown’  
Thread #\<Thread:0x2aaaabb8adc8 sleep\> is too old, killing.  
Tue Jan 13 09:36:34 -0800 2009: Error calling Dispatcher.dispatch  
#\<Mongrel::TimeoutError: Mongrel timed out this thread: shutdown\>Thread  
#\<Thread:0x2aaaabb8d230 sleep\> is too old, killing.

/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:221:in  
`process' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:159:in`process\_client’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:158:in  
`each' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:158:in`process\_client’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:285:in  
`run' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:285:in`initialize’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:285:in  
`new' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:285:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:268:in  
`initialize' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:268:in`new’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:268:in  
`run' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel/configurator.rb:282:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel/configurator.rb:281:in  
`each' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel/configurator.rb:281:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/mongrel\_rails:128:in  
`run' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel/command.rb:212:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/mongrel\_rails:281  
/usr/bin/mongrel\_rails:19:in `load’  
/usr/bin/mongrel\_rails:19Tue Jan 13 09:36:34 -0800 2009: Error calling  
Dispatcher.dispatch #\<Mongrel::TimeoutError: Mongrel timed out this  
thread: shutdown\>Thread #\<Thread:0x2aaaabb8f648 sleep\> is too old,  
killing.

/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:221:in  
`process' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:159:in`process\_client’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:158:in  
`each' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:158:in`process\_client’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:285:in  
`run' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:285:in`initialize’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:285:in  
`new' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:285:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:268:in  
`initialize' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:268:in`new’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:268:in  
`run' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel/configurator.rb:282:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel/configurator.rb:281:in  
`each' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel/configurator.rb:281:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/mongrel\_rails:128:in  
`run' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel/command.rb:212:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/mongrel\_rails:281  
/usr/bin/mongrel\_rails:19:in `load’  
/usr/bin/mongrel\_rails:19Tue Jan 13 09:36:34 -0800 2009: Error calling  
Dispatcher.dispatch #\<Mongrel::TimeoutError: Mongrel timed out this  
thread: shutdown\>Thread #\<Thread:0x2aaaabb90b88 sleep\> is too old,  
killing.

/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:221:in  
`process' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:159:in`process\_client’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:158:in  
`each' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:158:in`process\_client’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:285:in  
`run' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:285:in`initialize’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:285:in  
`new' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:285:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:268:in  
`initialize' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:268:in`new’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:268:in  
`run' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel/configurator.rb:282:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel/configurator.rb:281:in  
`each' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel/configurator.rb:281:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/mongrel\_rails:128:in  
`run' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel/command.rb:212:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/mongrel\_rails:281  
/usr/bin/mongrel\_rails:19:in `load’  
/usr/bin/mongrel\_rails:19Tue Jan 13 09:36:34 -0800 2009: Error calling  
Dispatcher.dispatch #\<Mongrel::TimeoutError: Mongrel timed out this  
thread: shutdown\>Thread #\<Thread:0x2aaaabb91fb0 sleep\> is too old,  
killing.

/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:221:in  
`process' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:159:in`process\_client’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:158:in  
`each' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:158:in`process\_client’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:285:in  
`run' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:285:in`initialize’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:285:in  
`new' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:285:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:268:in  
`initialize' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:268:in`new’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:268:in  
`run' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel/configurator.rb:282:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel/configurator.rb:281:in  
`each' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel/configurator.rb:281:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/mongrel\_rails:128:in  
`run' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel/command.rb:212:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/mongrel\_rails:281  
/usr/bin/mongrel\_rails:19:in `load’  
/usr/bin/mongrel\_rails:19Tue Jan 13 09:36:34 -0800 2009: Error calling  
Dispatcher.dispatch #\<Mongrel::TimeoutError: Mongrel timed out this  
thread: shutdown\>Thread #\<Thread:0x2aaaabb933d8 sleep\> is too old,  
killing.

/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:221:in  
`process' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:159:in`process\_client’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:158:in  
`each' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:158:in`process\_client’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:285:in  
`run' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:285:in`initialize’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:285:in  
`new' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:285:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:268:in  
`initialize' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:268:in`new’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:268:in  
`run' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel/configurator.rb:282:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel/configurator.rb:281:in  
`each' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel/configurator.rb:281:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/mongrel\_rails:128:in  
`run' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel/command.rb:212:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/mongrel\_rails:281  
/usr/bin/mongrel\_rails:19:in `load’  
/usr/bin/mongrel\_rails:19Tue Jan 13 09:36:34 -0800 2009: Error calling  
Dispatcher.dispatch #\<Mongrel::TimeoutError: Mongrel timed out this  
thread: shutdown\>Thread #\<Thread:0x2aaaabb96100 sleep\> is too old,  
killing.

/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:221:in  
`process' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:159:in`process\_client’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:158:in  
`each' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:158:in`process\_client’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:285:in  
`run' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:285:in`initialize’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:285:in  
`new' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:285:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:268:in  
`initialize' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel.rb:268:in`new’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel.rb:268:in  
`run' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel/configurator.rb:282:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/…/lib/mongrel/configurator.rb:281:in  
`each' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel/configurator.rb:281:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/mongrel\_rails:128:in  
`run' /usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/../lib/mongrel/command.rb:212:in`run’  
/usr/lib64/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/mongrel-1.1.5/bin/mongrel\_rails:281  
/usr/bin/mongrel\_rails:19:in `load’  
/usr/bin/mongrel\_rails:19Waiting for 3 requests to finish, could take  
60.0 seconds.

\*\* Daemonized, any open files are closed. Look at  
tmp/pids/mongrel.8000.pid and log/mongrel.8000.log for info.  
\*\* Starting Mongrel listening at 0.0.0.0:8000  
\*\* Initiating groups for “mongrel”:“mongrel”.  
\*\* Changing group to “mongrel”.  
\*\* Changing user to “mongrel”.  
\*\* Starting Rails with production environment…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![harpoon45](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/53a042/32.png) [@harpoon45](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/harpoon45)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 5:08am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/mongrel-timeout-error/196879/2 "2009-01-15T05:08:46Z")

</div>

Recommended: [Troubleshooting Ruby Processes: Leveraging System Tools when the Usual Ruby Tricks Stop Working (Digital Short Cut) | InformIT](http://www.informit.com/store/product.aspx?isbn=0321544684)

Specifically sections 3 and 4, on lsof and strace, the latter of which  
should be informative re: what the threads are doing when they’re not  
responding to a shutdown, provided you can catch one “in the act”.

Does this happen -every- time you issue a shutdown, or only after the  
cluster has been running for awhile?

This is otherwise stock mongrel behaviour; it’s just trying to comply  
with a  
shutdown request, and will forcibly kill threads that are unresponsive.

–

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![harpoon45](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/53a042/32.png) [@harpoon45](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/harpoon45)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 8:22am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/mongrel-timeout-error/196879/3 "2009-01-15T08:22:24Z")

</div>

> This is otherwise stock mongrel behaviour; it’s just trying to comply  
> with  
> a  
> shutdown request, and will forcibly kill threads that are unresponsive.

Yup, you have one active request that is blocked on something (most  
likely  
the db, or a web services call). The standard mogrel shutdown behviour  
is  
to issue a thread#kill for each thread in the queue. The thread at the  
head  
of the queue gets a few seconds grace before it gets a forcefull kill.

Cheers

DAve