# [USERID_PID_FILE_LOCK](https://apps.juniper.net/syslog-explorer/?msg=USERID_PID_FILE_LOCK)

## SYSLOG Details
- **Message**: Unable to lock PID file: <variable>error-message</variable>
- **Help**: useridd could not lock PID file
- **Description**: The userid daemon tried to lock the file that records its process ID (PID), which serves to prevent multiple instances of the process from running simultaneously. It could not lock the file and exited after logging this message.
- **Type**: SNO: Should Not Occur
- **Severity**: error
- **Cause**: -
- **Action**: -
- **Attributes**: error-message
- **Facility**: LOG_DAEMON

## Found this message in the following releases:
- [Junos OS 24.2R1](https://apps.juniper.net/syslog-explorer/?msg=USERID_PID_FILE_LOCK&sw=Junos%20OS&rel=24.2R1)
- [Junos OS 23.4R1](https://apps.juniper.net/syslog-explorer/?msg=USERID_PID_FILE_LOCK&sw=Junos%20OS&rel=23.4R1)