diff --git a/apps/emqx/etc/emqx.conf b/apps/emqx/etc/emqx.conf
index 0dcb7285e..58417b7cf 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/etc/emqx.conf
+++ b/apps/emqx/etc/emqx.conf
@@ -1806,7 +1806,7 @@ zones.internal {
     bind: "127.0.0.1:11883"
     acceptors: 4
     max_connections: 1024000
-    tcp.active: 1000
+    tcp.active_n: 1000
     tcp.backlog: 512
   }
 }
@@ -1959,10 +1959,10 @@ example_common_tcp_options {
   ##
   ## See: https://erlang.org/doc/man/inet.html#setopts-2
   ##
-  ## @doc listeners.<name>.tcp.active
+  ## @doc listeners.<name>.tcp.active_n
   ## ValueType: Number
   ## Default: 100
-  tcp.active: 100
+  tcp.active_n: 100
 
   ## TCP backlog defines the maximum length that the queue of
   ## pending connections can grow to.
diff --git a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_connection.erl b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_connection.erl
index 3363b013e..ab91c02b4 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_connection.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_connection.erl
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
           %% Sock State
           sockstate :: emqx_types:sockstate(),
           %% The {active, N} option
-          active :: pos_integer(),
+          active_n :: pos_integer(),
           %% Limiter
           limiter :: maybe(emqx_limiter:limiter()),
           %% Limit Timer
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
 -type(state() :: #state{}).
 
 -define(ACTIVE_N, 100).
--define(INFO_KEYS, [socktype, peername, sockname, sockstate, active]).
+-define(INFO_KEYS, [socktype, peername, sockname, sockstate, active_n]).
 -define(CONN_STATS, [recv_pkt, recv_msg, send_pkt, send_msg]).
 -define(SOCK_STATS, [recv_oct, recv_cnt, send_oct, send_cnt, send_pend]).
 
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ info(sockname, #state{sockname = Sockname}) ->
     Sockname;
 info(sockstate, #state{sockstate = SockSt}) ->
     SockSt;
-info(active, #state{active = ActiveN}) ->
+info(active_n, #state{active_n = ActiveN}) ->
     ActiveN;
 info(stats_timer, #state{stats_timer = StatsTimer}) ->
     StatsTimer;
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ init_state(Transport, Socket, Options) ->
                  conn_mod => ?MODULE
                 },
     Zone = proplists:get_value(zone, Options),
-    ActiveN = proplists:get_value(active, Options, ?ACTIVE_N),
+    ActiveN = proplists:get_value(active_n, Options, ?ACTIVE_N),
     PubLimit = emqx_zone:publish_limit(Zone),
     BytesIn = proplists:get_value(rate_limit, Options),
     RateLimit = emqx_zone:ratelimit(Zone),
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ init_state(Transport, Socket, Options) ->
            peername     = Peername,
            sockname     = Sockname,
            sockstate    = idle,
-           active     = ActiveN,
+           active_n     = ActiveN,
            limiter      = Limiter,
            parse_state  = ParseState,
            serialize    = Serialize,
@@ -452,12 +452,12 @@ handle_msg({Passive, _Sock}, State)
     handle_info(activate_socket, NState1);
 
 handle_msg(Deliver = {deliver, _Topic, _Msg},
-           #state{active = ActiveN} = State) ->
+           #state{active_n = ActiveN} = State) ->
     Delivers = [Deliver|emqx_misc:drain_deliver(ActiveN)],
     with_channel(handle_deliver, [Delivers], State);
 
 %% Something sent
-handle_msg({inet_reply, _Sock, ok}, State = #state{active = ActiveN}) ->
+handle_msg({inet_reply, _Sock, ok}, State = #state{active_n = ActiveN}) ->
     case emqx_pd:get_counter(outgoing_pubs) > ActiveN of
         true ->
             Pubs = emqx_pd:reset_counter(outgoing_pubs),
@@ -800,7 +800,7 @@ activate_socket(State = #state{sockstate = blocked}) ->
     {ok, State};
 activate_socket(State = #state{transport = Transport,
                                socket    = Socket,
-                               active  = N}) ->
+                               active_n  = N}) ->
     case Transport:setopts(Socket, [{active, N}]) of
         ok -> {ok, State#state{sockstate = running}};
         Error -> Error
diff --git a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_listeners.erl b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_listeners.erl
index e3c6a5e22..d8407ec9e 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_listeners.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_listeners.erl
@@ -199,7 +199,9 @@ ssl_opts(Opts) ->
                 maps:get(ssl, Opts, #{})))).
 
 tcp_opts(Opts) ->
-    maps:to_list(maps:get(tcp, Opts, #{})).
+    maps:to_list(
+        maps:without([active_n],
+            maps:get(tcp, Opts, #{}))).
 
 is_ssl(Opts) ->
     emqx_config:deep_get([ssl, enable], Opts, false).
diff --git a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_schema.erl b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_schema.erl
index 5a6044307..616f65bfd 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_schema.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_schema.erl
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ fields("ws_opts") ->
     ];
 
 fields("tcp_opts") ->
-    [ {"active", t(integer(), undefined, 100)}
+    [ {"active_n", t(integer(), undefined, 100)}
     , {"backlog", t(integer(), undefined, 1024)}
     , {"send_timeout", t(duration(), undefined, "15s")}
     , {"send_timeout_close", t(boolean(), undefined, true)}
diff --git a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_ws_connection.erl b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_ws_connection.erl
index 8d7816acf..7bc68c271 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_ws_connection.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_ws_connection.erl
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@
           sockname :: emqx_types:peername(),
           %% Sock state
           sockstate :: emqx_types:sockstate(),
-          %% Simulate the active opt
-          active :: pos_integer(),
+          %% Simulate the active_n opt
+          active_n :: pos_integer(),
           %% MQTT Piggyback
           mqtt_piggyback :: single | multiple,
           %% Limiter
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@
 -type(ws_cmd() :: {active, boolean()}|close).
 
 -define(ACTIVE_N, 100).
--define(INFO_KEYS, [socktype, peername, sockname, sockstate, active]).
+-define(INFO_KEYS, [socktype, peername, sockname, sockstate, active_n]).
 -define(SOCK_STATS, [recv_oct, recv_cnt, send_oct, send_cnt]).
 -define(CONN_STATS, [recv_pkt, recv_msg, send_pkt, send_msg]).
 
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ info(sockname, #state{sockname = Sockname}) ->
     Sockname;
 info(sockstate, #state{sockstate = SockSt}) ->
     SockSt;
-info(active, #state{active = ActiveN}) ->
+info(active_n, #state{active_n = ActiveN}) ->
     ActiveN;
 info(limiter, #state{limiter = Limiter}) ->
     maybe_apply(fun emqx_limiter:info/1, Limiter);
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ websocket_init([Req, Opts]) ->
     BytesIn = proplists:get_value(rate_limit, Opts),
     RateLimit = emqx_zone:ratelimit(Zone),
     Limiter = emqx_limiter:init(Zone, PubLimit, BytesIn, RateLimit),
-    ActiveN = proplists:get_value(active, Opts, ?ACTIVE_N),
+    ActiveN = proplists:get_value(active_n, Opts, ?ACTIVE_N),
     MQTTPiggyback = proplists:get_value(mqtt_piggyback, Opts, multiple),
     FrameOpts = emqx_zone:mqtt_frame_options(Zone),
     ParseState = emqx_frame:initial_parse_state(FrameOpts),
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ websocket_init([Req, Opts]) ->
     {ok, #state{peername       = Peername,
                 sockname       = Sockname,
                 sockstate      = running,
-                active       = ActiveN,
+                active_n       = ActiveN,
                 mqtt_piggyback = MQTTPiggyback,
                 limiter        = Limiter,
                 parse_state    = ParseState,
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ websocket_info({check_gc, Stats}, State) ->
     return(check_oom(run_gc(Stats, State)));
 
 websocket_info(Deliver = {deliver, _Topic, _Msg},
-               State = #state{active = ActiveN}) ->
+               State = #state{active_n = ActiveN}) ->
     Delivers = [Deliver|emqx_misc:drain_deliver(ActiveN)],
     with_channel(handle_deliver, [Delivers], State);
 
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ parse_incoming(Data, State = #state{parse_state = ParseState}) ->
 %% Handle incoming packet
 %%--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-handle_incoming(Packet, State = #state{active = ActiveN})
+handle_incoming(Packet, State = #state{active_n = ActiveN})
   when is_record(Packet, mqtt_packet) ->
     ?LOG(debug, "RECV ~s", [emqx_packet:format(Packet)]),
     ok = inc_incoming_stats(Packet),
@@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ with_channel(Fun, Args, State = #state{channel = Channel}) ->
 %% Handle outgoing packets
 %%--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-handle_outgoing(Packets, State = #state{active = ActiveN, mqtt_piggyback = MQTTPiggyback}) ->
+handle_outgoing(Packets, State = #state{active_n = ActiveN, mqtt_piggyback = MQTTPiggyback}) ->
     IoData = lists:map(serialize_and_inc_stats_fun(State), Packets),
     Oct = iolist_size(IoData),
     ok = inc_sent_stats(length(Packets), Oct),
diff --git a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_connection_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_connection_SUITE.erl
index 6bace4ccc..a6b2b614a 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_connection_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_connection_SUITE.erl
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ t_info(_) ->
                     end
                 end),
     #{sockinfo := SockInfo} = emqx_connection:info(CPid),
-    ?assertMatch(#{active := 100,
+    ?assertMatch(#{active_n := 100,
                     peername := {{127,0,0,1},3456},
                     sockname := {{127,0,0,1},1883},
                     sockstate := idle,
@@ -219,8 +219,8 @@ t_handle_msg_deliver(_) ->
 
 t_handle_msg_inet_reply(_) ->
     ok = meck:expect(emqx_pd, get_counter, fun(_) -> 10 end),
-    ?assertMatch({ok, _St}, handle_msg({inet_reply, for_testing, ok}, st(#{active => 0}))),
-    ?assertEqual(ok, handle_msg({inet_reply, for_testing, ok}, st(#{active => 100}))),
+    ?assertMatch({ok, _St}, handle_msg({inet_reply, for_testing, ok}, st(#{active_n => 0}))),
+    ?assertEqual(ok, handle_msg({inet_reply, for_testing, ok}, st(#{active_n => 100}))),
     ?assertMatch({stop, {shutdown, for_testing}, _St},
                  handle_msg({inet_reply, for_testing, {error, for_testing}}, st())).
 
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ t_start_link_exit_on_activate(_) ->
 t_get_conn_info(_) ->
     with_conn(fun(CPid) ->
                       #{sockinfo := SockInfo} = emqx_connection:info(CPid),
-                      ?assertEqual(#{active => 100,
+                      ?assertEqual(#{active_n => 100,
                                      peername => {{127,0,0,1},3456},
                                      sockname => {{127,0,0,1},1883},
                                      sockstate => running,
diff --git a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_mqtt_protocol_v5_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_mqtt_protocol_v5_SUITE.erl
index e80643e96..8ce35b50c 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_mqtt_protocol_v5_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_mqtt_protocol_v5_SUITE.erl
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ t_connect_idle_timeout(_) ->
 
 t_connect_limit_timeout(_) ->
     ok = meck:new(proplists, [non_strict, passthrough, no_history, no_link, unstick]),
-    meck:expect(proplists, get_value, fun(active, _Options, _Default) -> 1;
+    meck:expect(proplists, get_value, fun(active_n, _Options, _Default) -> 1;
                                         (Arg1, ARg2, Arg3) -> meck:passthrough([Arg1, ARg2, Arg3])
                                                             end),
 
diff --git a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_ws_connection_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_ws_connection_SUITE.erl
index a9a6b7792..6db831972 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_ws_connection_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_ws_connection_SUITE.erl
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ t_info(_) ->
                   end),
     #{sockinfo := SockInfo} = ?ws_conn:call(WsPid, info),
     #{socktype  := ws,
-      active  := 100,
+      active_n  := 100,
       peername  := {{127,0,0,1}, 3456},
       sockname  := {{127,0,0,1}, 18083},
       sockstate := running
diff --git a/apps/emqx_coap/src/emqx_coap_mqtt_adapter.erl b/apps/emqx_coap/src/emqx_coap_mqtt_adapter.erl
index fa127cc8b..d465f9ca3 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_coap/src/emqx_coap_mqtt_adapter.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_coap/src/emqx_coap_mqtt_adapter.erl
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ sockinfo(#state{peername = Peername}) ->
       peername => Peername,
       sockname => {{127, 0, 0, 1}, 5683},    %% FIXME: Sock?
       sockstate =>  running,
-      active => 1
+      active_n => 1
      }.
 
 %% copies from emqx_channel:info/1
diff --git a/apps/emqx_exproto/etc/emqx_exproto.conf b/apps/emqx_exproto/etc/emqx_exproto.conf
index 687e97748..7a7667271 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_exproto/etc/emqx_exproto.conf
+++ b/apps/emqx_exproto/etc/emqx_exproto.conf
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ exproto.listener.protoname.max_conn_rate = 1000
 ## Specify the {active, N} option for the external MQTT/TCP Socket.
 ##
 ## Value: Number
-exproto.listener.protoname.active = 100
+exproto.listener.protoname.active_n = 100
 
 ## Idle timeout
 ##
diff --git a/apps/emqx_exproto/priv/emqx_exproto.schema b/apps/emqx_exproto/priv/emqx_exproto.schema
index 6d0fb0fa8..4bd215847 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_exproto/priv/emqx_exproto.schema
+++ b/apps/emqx_exproto/priv/emqx_exproto.schema
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ end}.
   {datatype, integer}
 ]}.
 
-{mapping, "exproto.listener.$proto.active", "emqx_exproto.listeners", [
+{mapping, "exproto.listener.$proto.active_n", "emqx_exproto.listeners", [
   {default, 100},
   {datatype, integer}
 ]}.
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ end}.
                   end,
 
     ConnOpts = fun(Prefix) ->
-                   Filter([{active, cuttlefish:conf_get(Prefix ++ ".active", Conf, undefined)},
+                   Filter([{active_n, cuttlefish:conf_get(Prefix ++ ".active_n", Conf, undefined)},
                            {idle_timeout, cuttlefish:conf_get(Prefix ++ ".idle_timeout", Conf, undefined)}])
                end,
 
diff --git a/apps/emqx_exproto/src/emqx_exproto_conn.erl b/apps/emqx_exproto/src/emqx_exproto_conn.erl
index fb30e1e88..da655bcb4 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_exproto/src/emqx_exproto_conn.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_exproto/src/emqx_exproto_conn.erl
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
           %% Sock State
           sockstate :: emqx_types:sockstate(),
           %% The {active, N} option
-          active :: pos_integer(),
+          active_n :: pos_integer(),
           %% BACKW: e4.2.0-e4.2.1
           %% We should remove it
           sendfun :: function() | undefined,
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
 -type(state() :: #state{}).
 
 -define(ACTIVE_N, 100).
--define(INFO_KEYS, [socktype, peername, sockname, sockstate, active]).
+-define(INFO_KEYS, [socktype, peername, sockname, sockstate, active_n]).
 -define(CONN_STATS, [recv_pkt, recv_msg, send_pkt, send_msg]).
 -define(SOCK_STATS, [recv_oct, recv_cnt, send_oct, send_cnt, send_pend]).
 
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ info(sockname, #state{sockname = Sockname}) ->
     Sockname;
 info(sockstate, #state{sockstate = SockSt}) ->
     SockSt;
-info(active, #state{active = ActiveN}) ->
+info(active_n, #state{active_n = ActiveN}) ->
     ActiveN.
 
 -spec(stats(pid()|state()) -> emqx_types:stats()).
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ init_state(WrappedSock, Peername, Options) ->
                  conn_mod => ?MODULE
                 },
 
-    ActiveN = proplists:get_value(active, Options, ?ACTIVE_N),
+    ActiveN = proplists:get_value(active_n, Options, ?ACTIVE_N),
 
     %% FIXME:
     %%Limiter = emqx_limiter:init(Options),
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ init_state(WrappedSock, Peername, Options) ->
            peername     = Peername,
            sockname     = Sockname,
            sockstate    = idle,
-           active     = ActiveN,
+           active_n     = ActiveN,
            sendfun      = undefined,
            limiter      = undefined,
            channel      = Channel,
@@ -403,13 +403,13 @@ handle_msg({Passive, _Sock}, State)
     handle_info(activate_socket, NState1);
 
 handle_msg(Deliver = {deliver, _Topic, _Msg},
-           State = #state{active = ActiveN}) ->
+           State = #state{active_n = ActiveN}) ->
     Delivers = [Deliver|emqx_misc:drain_deliver(ActiveN)],
     with_channel(handle_deliver, [Delivers], State);
 
 %% Something sent
 %% TODO: Who will deliver this message?
-handle_msg({inet_reply, _Sock, ok}, State = #state{active = ActiveN}) ->
+handle_msg({inet_reply, _Sock, ok}, State = #state{active_n = ActiveN}) ->
     case emqx_pd:get_counter(outgoing_pkt) > ActiveN of
         true ->
             Pubs = emqx_pd:reset_counter(outgoing_pkt),
@@ -652,7 +652,7 @@ activate_socket(State = #state{sockstate = closed}) ->
 activate_socket(State = #state{sockstate = blocked}) ->
     {ok, State};
 activate_socket(State = #state{socket   = Socket,
-                               active = N}) ->
+                               active_n = N}) ->
     %% FIXME: Works on dtls/udp ???
     %%        How to hanlde buffer?
     case esockd_setopts(Socket, [{active, N}]) of
diff --git a/apps/emqx_lwm2m/src/emqx_lwm2m_protocol.erl b/apps/emqx_lwm2m/src/emqx_lwm2m_protocol.erl
index 9a8c0229a..55f992da6 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_lwm2m/src/emqx_lwm2m_protocol.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_lwm2m/src/emqx_lwm2m_protocol.erl
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ sockinfo(#lwm2m_state{peername = Peername}) ->
       peername => Peername,
       sockname => {{127,0,0,1}, 5683},    %% FIXME: Sock?
       sockstate =>  running,
-      active => 1
+      active_n => 1
      }.
 
 %% copies from emqx_channel:info/1
diff --git a/apps/emqx_sn/src/emqx_sn_gateway.erl b/apps/emqx_sn/src/emqx_sn_gateway.erl
index bc1c11075..2339961cf 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_sn/src/emqx_sn_gateway.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_sn/src/emqx_sn_gateway.erl
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
                 pending_topic_ids = #{} :: pending_msgs()
                }).
 
--define(INFO_KEYS, [socktype, peername, sockname, sockstate]). %, active]).
+-define(INFO_KEYS, [socktype, peername, sockname, sockstate]). %, active_n]).
 -define(CONN_STATS, [recv_pkt, recv_msg, send_pkt, send_msg]).
 -define(SOCK_STATS, [recv_oct, recv_cnt, send_oct, send_cnt, send_pend]).