diff --git a/roles/set_semaphore_count/README.md b/roles/set_semaphore_count/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2dc03ea31a574196932a811e5a27dc0509236c81
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/set_semaphore_count/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+Some programs, i.e. GAMESS, needs a larger number of system semaphores than  provided by default.
+This role creates a config  file in /etc/sysctl.d/  that sets the value on startup, so that it is persistent after reboot
+
+It also runs a Shell command so change has immediate effect: This is the default value for the role
+echo 500 256000 64 10240 > /proc/sys/kernel/sem
+
+We use a variable SEM_COUNT so users can override the default setting.
+
+use
+- { role: set_semaphore_count } #to use default value hardcoded inside main.yml, (as above)
+or
+- { role: set_semaphore_count, SEM_COUNT: "200 252000 24 20240" } #to use some other value (the ones here are nonsense for example only)
diff --git a/roles/set_semaphore_count/tasks/main.yml b/roles/set_semaphore_count/tasks/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..01203f6d9fbbfb0de5d564bb045e10430e9a0a07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/set_semaphore_count/tasks/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+---
+- name: set the value of the Semaphores
+  set_fact:
+       SEM_COUNT: "500 256000 64 10240"
+  when: SEM_COUNT is not defined
+- name: test value
+  debug: msg="Value of semaphores is {{ SEM_COUNT }} "  #"
+- name: Place comment line in file
+  lineinfile: 
+     path: /etc/sysctl.d/88-setSemaphore.conf
+     line: "#set large semaphore count. Needed for Gamess."
+     state: present
+     create: yes
+     owner: root
+     group: root
+     mode: "u+rwx,o=rx,g=rx"
+  become: true
+  become_user: root
+     
+- name: Place comment line in file
+  lineinfile: 
+     path: /etc/sysctl.d/88-setSemaphore.conf
+     line: "#https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/5/html/tuning_and_optimizing_red_hat_enterprise_linux_for_oracle_9i_and_10g_databases/sect-oracle_9i_and_10g_tuning_guide-setting_semaphores-setting_semaphore_parameters "
+     state: present
+  become: true
+  become_user: root
+
+- name: Place comment line in file
+  lineinfile: 
+     path: /etc/sysctl.d/88-setSemaphore.conf
+     line: "kernel.sem={{ SEM_COUNT }}"
+     state: present
+     create: yes
+     owner: root
+     group: root
+     mode: "u+rwx,o=rx,g=rx"
+  become: true
+  become_user: root
+
+- name: set semaphore count now 
+  shell: "/usr/bin/echo {{ SEM_COUNT }}   > /proc/sys/kernel/sem"
+  become: true
+  become_user: root
+