Subject:   -46- Why does malloc() never return NULL?
Date: 05 Jul 1994 00:00:01 EST

  Virtual memory is effectively infinitely large in IRIX 4.0.x, and it
  can be configured to be so in IRIX 5.x. malloc() never returns NULL
  because requests are always granted. The admin FAQ gives further
  background, and tells how to configure your system to limit virtual
  memory to physical memory and physical swap space.