imap_open failed: Unable to create selectable TCP socket (1059 >= 1024)

Point WPE support to this link https://stackoverflow.com/questions/18825764/imap-open-fails-giving-unable-to-create-selectable-tcp-socket

I am having the same issue. I have pointed WPEngine to the link above. and this is their response:

“Howdy,

This was definitely an interesting thing to look into. It turns out that the problem is related to the number of file descriptors open by apache, but I wasn’t able to find any settings at our end that would be limiting this. After some googling, it turns out that this is a bug with the PHP function that’s being used to make the connection:

https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=478193

It looks like this server has more that 1024 files opened by apache because of the number of installations on it. Each installation has several log files that are opened for writing to by Apache (8 in total).

As a solution, I could try migrating just this installation over to a shared server with fewer total installations on it, but there’s no guarantee that it wouldn’t end up filling with more people at a later date and the error may resurface.

You might check with the plugin developer as well to see if there might be an alternate method of performing the IMAP check aside from using this bugged PHP function as that would be a more permanent solution.”

Wayne, if you could advise, that would be great! Thank you!

Supposedly this bug was fixed, but it is hard to tell if the fix made it into any PHP releases.

On my long term TODO list is to move away from php-imap, but I haven’t started that work, nor am I likely to in the near future due to other commitments.

This is a recent issue, so I expect it is really only affecting WPE clients. Maybe not a great suggestion, but you could switch to another hoster.

If this is very important to you (i.e. worth $$$) you can contact me at [email protected]

Hi Wayne,

I’m having the same problem. When I run the Config test I get

imap_open failed: Unable to create selectable TCP socket (1244 >= 1024)

Help!

CM

@cdmorton

Are you using WPEngine?

Yes

We actually resolved this by switching to Cloudways. Not ideal, but it worked.

@cdmorton

I can’t fix issues caused by your hosting company. The long term fix is still long term unless you are willing to help fund the fix.

@wayne Allen

We are experiencing the “imap_open failed: Unable to create selectable TCP socket (1098 >= 1024)” error as well.

We host on WPEngine.
Postie Gmail settings are correct.
Google 2-Step Authentication is off.
Allow less secure apps is enabled.
The password has been verified.

We are interested in funding the long term fix.

TIA
Kevin

@ratputin I did receive your direct email. We can continue the discussion offline.