The following no longer works in Python 2.4:

_buf = mmap.mmap(-1, 8192,
flags=mmap.MAP_PRIVATE|mmap.MAP_ANONYMOUS,
prot=mmap.PROT_READ|mmap.PROT_WRITE )

This is because the fd value of -1 raises an exception
because it is being dup-ed inside the mmap module. But
the fd is ignored in anonymous mmaps and does not need
to be dup-ed. This worked in older Python (2.3). Is the
dup() call really necessary? My current workaround is
to open /dev/null. But this causes "invisible"
consumption of file descriptors for the process.

Logged In: YES 
user_id=16527

Here is a patch that fixes the problem for anonymous maps.
It simply makes the fd to be ignored if it is less than
zero. This works, but I still don't think having a duped fd
is needed. Whatever it accomplishes could be done in Python.
As a general rule, I prefer these kinds os system call
wrappers to do as little as possible (just wrap the call). 

Logged In: YES 
user_id=33168

I think the dup() was added for resizing and some other
feature.  I'm not really sure about it, but it's safer to
leave in at this point.

There's no file attached.  This problem was fixed by patch
1407135.

Committed revision 42244.
Committed revision 42245. (2.4)

Logged In: YES 
user_id=16527

Bah, stupid little box... Here is the patch again. Just for
the record (no /dev/zero is needed here).