path: root/man3p/semop.3p

.\" Copyright (c) 2001-2003 The Open Group, All Rights Reserved 
.TH "SEMOP" P 2003 "IEEE/The Open Group" "POSIX Programmer's Manual"
.\" semop 
.SH NAME
semop \- XSI semaphore operations
.SH SYNOPSIS
.LP
\fB#include <sys/sem.h>
.br
.sp
int semop(int\fP \fIsemid\fP\fB, struct sembuf *\fP\fIsops\fP\fB,
size_t\fP \fInsops\fP\fB); \fP
\fB
.br
\fP
.SH DESCRIPTION
.LP
The \fIsemop\fP() function operates on XSI semaphores (see the Base
Definitions volume of IEEE\ Std\ 1003.1-2001, Section 4.15, Semaphore).
It is unspecified whether this function interoperates
with the realtime interprocess communication facilities defined in
\fIRealtime\fP .
.LP
The \fIsemop\fP() function shall perform atomically a user-defined
array of semaphore operations on the set of semaphores
associated with the semaphore identifier specified by the argument
\fIsemid\fP.
.LP
The argument \fIsops\fP is a pointer to a user-defined array of semaphore
operation structures. The implementation shall not
modify elements of this array unless the application uses implementation-defined
extensions.
.LP
The argument \fInsops\fP is the number of such structures in the array.
.LP
Each structure, \fBsembuf\fP, includes the following members:
.TS C
center; l2 l2 l.
\fBMember Type\fP	\fBMember Name\fP	\fBDescription\fP
\fBshort\fP	\fIsem_num\fP	Semaphore number.
\fBshort\fP	\fIsem_op\fP	Semaphore operation.
\fBshort\fP	\fIsem_flg\fP	Operation flags.
.TE
.LP
Each semaphore operation specified by \fIsem_op\fP is performed on
the corresponding semaphore specified by \fIsemid\fP and
\fIsem_num\fP.
.LP
The variable \fIsem_op\fP specifies one of three semaphore operations:
.IP " 1." 4
If \fIsem_op\fP is a negative integer and the calling process has
alter permission, one of the following shall occur:
.RS
.IP " *" 3
If \fIsemval\fP(see \fI<sys/sem.h>\fP) is greater than or equal to
the absolute
value of \fIsem_op\fP, the absolute value of \fIsem_op\fP is subtracted
from \fIsemval\fP. Also, if (\fIsem_flg\fP
&SEM_UNDO) is non-zero, the absolute value of \fIsem_op\fP shall be
added to the calling process' \fIsemadj\fP value for the
specified semaphore.
.LP
.IP " *" 3
If \fIsemval\fP is less than the absolute value of \fIsem_op\fP and
(\fIsem_flg\fP &IPC_NOWAIT) is non-zero,
\fIsemop\fP() shall return immediately.
.LP
.IP " *" 3
If \fIsemval\fP is less than the absolute value of \fIsem_op\fP and
(\fIsem_flg\fP &IPC_NOWAIT) is 0, \fIsemop\fP()
shall increment the \fIsemncnt\fP associated with the specified semaphore
and suspend execution of the calling thread until one of
the following conditions occurs:
.RS
.IP " *" 3
The value of \fIsemval\fP becomes greater than or equal to the absolute
value of \fIsem_op\fP. When this occurs, the value of
\fIsemncnt\fP associated with the specified semaphore shall be decremented,
the absolute value of \fIsem_op\fP shall be
subtracted from \fIsemval\fP and, if (\fIsem_flg\fP &SEM_UNDO) is
non-zero, the absolute value of \fIsem_op\fP shall be
added to the calling process' \fIsemadj\fP value for the specified
semaphore.
.LP
.IP " *" 3
The \fIsemid\fP for which the calling thread is awaiting action is
removed from the system. When this occurs, \fIerrno\fP
shall be set equal to [EIDRM] and -1 shall be returned.
.LP
.IP " *" 3
The calling thread receives a signal that is to be caught. When this
occurs, the value of \fIsemncnt\fP associated with the
specified semaphore shall be decremented, and the calling thread shall
resume execution in the manner prescribed in \fIsigaction\fP() .
.LP
.RE
.LP
.RE
.LP
.IP " 2." 4
If \fIsem_op\fP is a positive integer and the calling process has
alter permission, the value of \fIsem_op\fP shall be added
to \fIsemval\fP and, if (\fIsem_flg\fP &SEM_UNDO) is non-zero, the
value of \fIsem_op\fP shall be subtracted from the
calling process' \fIsemadj\fP value for the specified semaphore.
.LP
.IP " 3." 4
If \fIsem_op\fP is 0 and the calling process has read permission,
one of the following shall occur:
.RS
.IP " *" 3
If \fIsemval\fP is 0, \fIsemop\fP() shall return immediately.
.LP
.IP " *" 3
If \fIsemval\fP is non-zero and (\fIsem_flg\fP &IPC_NOWAIT) is non-zero,
\fIsemop\fP() shall return immediately.
.LP
.IP " *" 3
If \fIsemval\fP is non-zero and (\fIsem_flg\fP &IPC_NOWAIT) is 0,
\fIsemop\fP() shall increment the \fIsemzcnt\fP
associated with the specified semaphore and suspend execution of the
calling thread until one of the following occurs:
.RS
.IP " *" 3
The value of \fIsemval\fP becomes 0, at which time the value of \fIsemzcnt\fP
associated with the specified semaphore shall be
decremented.
.LP
.IP " *" 3
The \fIsemid\fP for which the calling thread is awaiting action is
removed from the system. When this occurs, \fIerrno\fP
shall be set equal to [EIDRM] and -1 shall be returned.
.LP
.IP " *" 3
The calling thread receives a signal that is to be caught. When this
occurs, the value of \fIsemzcnt\fP associated with the
specified semaphore shall be decremented, and the calling thread shall
resume execution in the manner prescribed in \fIsigaction\fP() .
.LP
.RE
.LP
.RE
.LP
.LP
Upon successful completion, the value of \fIsempid\fP for each semaphore
specified in the array pointed to by \fIsops\fP shall
be set equal to the process ID of the calling process.
.SH RETURN VALUE
.LP
Upon successful completion, \fIsemop\fP() shall return 0; otherwise,
it shall return -1 and set \fIerrno\fP to indicate the
error.
.SH ERRORS
.LP
The \fIsemop\fP() function shall fail if:
.TP 7
.B E2BIG
The value of \fInsops\fP is greater than the system-imposed maximum.
.TP 7
.B EACCES
Operation permission is denied to the calling process; see \fIXSI
Interprocess
Communication\fP .
.TP 7
.B EAGAIN
The operation would result in suspension of the calling process but
(\fIsem_flg\fP &IPC_NOWAIT) is non-zero.
.TP 7
.B EFBIG
The value of \fIsem_num\fP is less than 0 or greater than or equal
to the number of semaphores in the set associated with
\fIsemid\fP.
.TP 7
.B EIDRM
The semaphore identifier \fIsemid\fP is removed from the system.
.TP 7
.B EINTR
The \fIsemop\fP() function was interrupted by a signal.
.TP 7
.B EINVAL
The value of \fIsemid\fP is not a valid semaphore identifier, or the
number of individual semaphores for which the calling
process requests a SEM_UNDO would exceed the system-imposed limit.
.TP 7
.B ENOSPC
The limit on the number of individual processes requesting a SEM_UNDO
would be exceeded.
.TP 7
.B ERANGE
An operation would cause a \fIsemval\fP to overflow the system-imposed
limit, or an operation would cause a \fIsemadj\fP
value to overflow the system-imposed limit.
.sp
.LP
\fIThe following sections are informative.\fP
.SH EXAMPLES
.SS Setting Values in Semaphores
.LP
The following example sets the values of the two semaphores associated
with the \fIsemid\fP identifier to the values contained
in the \fIsb\fP array.
.sp
.RS
.nf

\fB#include <sys/sem.h>
\&...
int semid;
struct sembuf sb[2];
int nsops = 2;
int result;
.sp

/* Adjust value of semaphore in the semaphore array semid. */
sb[0].sem_num = 0;
sb[0].sem_op = -1;
sb[0].sem_flg = SEM_UNDO | IPC_NOWAIT;
sb[1].sem_num = 1;
sb[1].sem_op =  1;
sb[1].sem_flg = 0;
.sp

result = semop(semid, sb, nsops);
\fP
.fi
.RE
.SS Creating a Semaphore Identifier
.LP
The following example gets a unique semaphore key using the \fIftok\fP()
function, then
gets a semaphore ID associated with that key using the \fIsemget\fP()
function (the first
call also tests to make sure the semaphore exists). If the semaphore
does not exist, the program creates it, as shown by the second
call to \fIsemget\fP(). In creating the semaphore for the queuing
process, the program
attempts to create one semaphore with read/write permission for all.
It also uses the IPC_EXCL flag, which forces \fIsemget\fP() to fail
if the semaphore already exists.
.LP
After creating the semaphore, the program uses a call to \fIsemop\fP()
to initialize it to the values in the \fIsbuf\fP array.
The number of processes that can execute concurrently without queuing
is initially set to 2. The final call to \fIsemget\fP() creates a
semaphore identifier that can be used later in the program.
.LP
The final call to \fIsemop\fP() acquires the semaphore and waits until
it is free; the SEM_UNDO option releases the semaphore
when the process exits, waiting until there are less than two processes
running concurrently.
.sp
.RS
.nf

\fB#include <sys/types.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <sys/ipc.h>
#include <sys/sem.h>
#include <sys/stat.h>
#include <errno.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <pwd.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
#include <limits.h>
\&...
key_t semkey;
int semid, pfd, fv;
struct sembuf sbuf;
char *lgn;
char filename[PATH_MAX+1];
struct stat outstat;
struct passwd *pw;
\&...
/* Get unique key for semaphore. */
if ((semkey = ftok("/tmp", 'a')) == (key_t) -1) {
    perror("IPC error: ftok"); exit(1);
}
.sp

/* Get semaphore ID associated with this key. */
if ((semid = semget(semkey, 0, 0)) == -1) {
.sp

    /* Semaphore does not exist - Create. */
    if ((semid = semget(semkey, 1, IPC_CREAT | IPC_EXCL | S_IRUSR |
        S_IWUSR | S_IRGRP | S_IWGRP | S_IROTH | S_IWOTH)) != -1)
    {
        /* Initialize the semaphore. */
        sbuf.sem_num = 0;
        sbuf.sem_op = 2;  /* This is the number of runs without queuing. */
        sbuf.sem_flg = 0;
        if (semop(semid, &sbuf, 1) == -1) {
            perror("IPC error: semop"); exit(1);
        }
    }
    else if (errno == EEXIST) {
        if ((semid = semget(semkey, 0, 0)) == -1) {
            perror("IPC error 1: semget"); exit(1);
        }
    }
    else {
        perror("IPC error 2: semget"); exit(1);
    }
}
\&...
sbuf.sem_num = 0;
sbuf.sem_op = -1;
sbuf.sem_flg = SEM_UNDO;
if (semop(semid, &sbuf, 1) == -1) {
    perror("IPC Error: semop"); exit(1);
}
\fP
.fi
.RE
.SH APPLICATION USAGE
.LP
The POSIX Realtime Extension defines alternative interfaces for interprocess
communication. Application developers who need to
use IPC should design their applications so that modules using the
IPC routines described in \fIXSI Interprocess Communication\fP can
be easily modified to use the alternative
interfaces.
.SH RATIONALE
.LP
None.
.SH FUTURE DIRECTIONS
.LP
None.
.SH SEE ALSO
.LP
\fIXSI Interprocess Communication\fP , \fIRealtime\fP , \fIexec\fP()
,
\fIexit\fP() , \fIfork\fP() , \fIsemctl\fP() , \fIsemget\fP() , \fIsem_close\fP()
, \fIsem_destroy\fP() , \fIsem_getvalue\fP() , \fIsem_init\fP() ,
\fIsem_open\fP() , \fIsem_post\fP() , \fIsem_unlink\fP() , \fIsem_wait\fP()
, the Base Definitions volume of IEEE\ Std\ 1003.1-2001, \fI<sys/ipc.h>\fP,
\fI<sys/sem.h>\fP, \fI<sys/types.h>\fP
.SH COPYRIGHT
Portions of this text are reprinted and reproduced in electronic form
from IEEE Std 1003.1, 2003 Edition, Standard for Information Technology
-- Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX), The Open Group Base
Specifications Issue 6, Copyright (C) 2001-2003 by the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc and The Open Group. In the
event of any discrepancy between this version and the original IEEE and
The Open Group Standard, the original IEEE and The Open Group Standard
is the referee document. The original Standard can be obtained online at
http://www.opengroup.org/unix/online.html .