monitor java thread usage against o/s limits

I am investigating an issue where the java threads are not responding. the problem at this point seems more related to the o/s limitations
i.e file descriptor, ulimit than to an application code issue at this point.

I am looking for pointers or suggestions on monitoring thread counts for java and comparing them to the current limits of the o/s.

my only thought right now is to set up a recurring shell script, that counts the current process sleeps for a set time and then performs the same count, until the problem is noted.

suggestions are welcome. o/s is RH 2.4.21.xx

a follow up to this post:
I still haven't been able to correlate the process and the number of open file descriptors specific to it, however, I have some leads that I am investigating.

in the meantime the following will at least show specifically that the total number of open file descriptors and if this is the true "cause of the issue.

verify the number of open file descriptors on a system : linux tested

cat /proc/sys/fs/file-nr

how do we know how many file descriptors are being used?

[root@pixie proc]# cat /proc/sys/fs/file-nr
3391 969 52427
| | |
| | maximum open file descriptors
| |
| total free allocated file descriptors
total allocated file descriptors
(the number of file descriptors allocated since boot)


excerpt from: www.netadmintools.com/art295.html

I will follow up this post if I find an answer to the initial question.