@c @c COPYRIGHT (c) 1988-2002. @c On-Line Applications Research Corporation (OAR). @c All rights reserved. @c @c $Id$ @c @chapter Signal Manager @section Introduction The signal manager provides the functionality associated with the generation, delivery, and management of process-oriented signals. The directives provided by the signal manager are: @itemize @bullet @item @code{sigaddset} - Add a Signal to a Signal Set @item @code{sigdelset} - Delete a Signal from a Signal Set @item @code{sigfillset} - Fill a Signal Set @item @code{sigismember} - Is Signal a Member of a Signal Set @item @code{sigemptyset} - Empty a Signal Set @item @code{sigaction} - Examine and Change Signal Action @item @code{pthread_kill} - Send a Signal to a Thread @item @code{sigprocmask} - Examine and Change Process Blocked Signals @item @code{pthread_sigmask} - Examine and Change Thread Blocked Signals @item @code{kill} - Send a Signal to a Process @item @code{sigpending} - Examine Pending Signals @item @code{sigsuspend} - Wait for a Signal @item @code{pause} - Suspend Process Execution @item @code{sigwait} - Synchronously Accept a Signal @item @code{sigwaitinfo} - Synchronously Accept a Signal @item @code{sigtimedwait} - Synchronously Accept a Signal with Timeout @item @code{sigqueue} - Queue a Signal to a Process @item @code{alarm} - Schedule Alarm @end itemize @section Background @subsection Signals POSIX signals are an asynchronous event mechanism. Each process and thread has a set of signals associated with it. Individual signals may be enabled (e.g. unmasked) or blocked (e.g. ignored) on both a per-thread and process level. Signals which are enabled have a signal handler associated with them. When the signal is generated and conditions are met, then the signal handler is invoked in the proper process or thread context asynchronous relative to the logical thread of execution. If a signal has been blocked when it is generated, then it is queued and kept pending until the thread or process unblocks the signal or explicitly checks for it. Traditional, non-real-time POSIX signals do not queue. Thus if a process or thread has blocked a particular signal, then multiple occurrences of that signal are recorded as a single occurrence of that signal. One can check for the set of outstanding signals that have been blocked. Services are provided to check for outstanding process or thread directed signals. @subsection Signal Delivery Signals which are directed at a thread are delivered to the specified thread. Signals which are directed at a process are delivered to a thread which is selected based on the following algorithm: @enumerate @item If the action for this signal is currently @code{SIG_IGN}, then the signal is simply ignored. @item If the currently executing thread has the signal unblocked, then the signal is delivered to it. @item If any threads are currently blocked waiting for this signal (@code{sigwait()}), then the signal is delivered to the highest priority thread waiting for this signal. @item If any other threads are willing to accept delivery of the signal, then the signal is delivered to the highest priority thread of this set. In the event, multiple threads of the same priority are willing to accept this signal, then priority is given first to ready threads, then to threads blocked on calls which may be interrupted, and finally to threads blocked on non-interruptible calls. @item In the event the signal still can not be delivered, then it is left pending. The first thread to unblock the signal (@code{sigprocmask()} or @code{pthread_sigprocmask()}) or to wait for this signal (@code{sigwait()}) will be the recipient of the signal. @end enumerate @section Operations @subsection Signal Set Management Each process and each thread within that process has a set of individual signals and handlers associated with it. Services are provided to construct signal sets for the purposes of building signal sets -- type @code{sigset_t} -- that are used to provide arguments to the services that mask, unmask, and check on pending signals. @subsection Blocking Until Signal Generation A thread may block until receipt of a signal. The "sigwait" and "pause" families of services block until the requested signal is received or if using @code{sigtimedwait()} until the specified timeout period has elapsed. @subsection Sending a Signal This is accomplished via one of a number of services that sends a signal to either a process or thread. Signals may be directed at a process by the service @code{kill()} or at a thread by the service @code{pthread_kill()} @section Directives This section details the signal manager's directives. A subsection is dedicated to each of this manager's directives and describes the calling sequence, related constants, usage, and status codes. @c @c @c @page @subsection sigaddset - Add a Signal to a Signal Set @findex sigaddset @cindex add a signal to a signal set @subheading CALLING SEQUENCE: @example #include int sigaddset( sigset_t *set, int signo ); @end example @subheading STATUS CODES: @table @b @item EINVAL Invalid argument passed. @end table @subheading DESCRIPTION: This function adds the @code{signo} to the specified signal @code{set}. @subheading NOTES: NONE @c @c @c @page @subsection sigdelset - Delete a Signal from a Signal Set @findex sigdelset @cindex delete a signal from a signal set @subheading CALLING SEQUENCE: @example #include int sigdelset( sigset_t *set, int signo ); @end example @subheading STATUS CODES: @table @b @item EINVAL Invalid argument passed. @end table @subheading DESCRIPTION: This function deletes the @code{signo} to the specified signal @code{set}. @subheading NOTES: NONE @c @c @c @page @subsection sigfillset - Fill a Signal Set @findex sigfillset @cindex fill a signal set @subheading CALLING SEQUENCE: @example #include int sigfillset( sigset_t *set ); @end example @subheading STATUS CODES: @table @b @item EINVAL Invalid argument passed. @end table @subheading DESCRIPTION: This function fills the specified signal @code{set} such that all signals are set. @subheading NOTES: NONE @c @c @c @page @subsection sigismember - Is Signal a Member of a Signal Set @findex sigismember @cindex is signal a member of a signal set @subheading CALLING SEQUENCE: @example #include int sigismember( const sigset_t *set, int signo ); @end example @subheading STATUS CODES: @table @b @item EINVAL Invalid argument passed. @end table @subheading DESCRIPTION: This function returns returns 1 if @code{signo} is a member of @code{set} and 0 otherwise. @subheading NOTES: NONE @c @c @c @page @subsection sigemptyset - Empty a Signal Set @findex sigemptyset @cindex empty a signal set @subheading CALLING SEQUENCE: @example #include int sigemptyset( sigset_t *set ); @end example @subheading STATUS CODES: @table @b @item EINVAL Invalid argument passed. @end table @subheading DESCRIPTION: This function fills the specified signal @code{set} such that all signals are cleared. @subheading NOTES: NONE @c @c @c @page @subsection sigaction - Examine and Change Signal Action @findex sigaction @cindex examine and change signal action @subheading CALLING SEQUENCE: @example #include int sigaction( int sig, const struct sigaction *act, struct sigaction *oact ); @end example @subheading STATUS CODES: @table @b @item EINVAL Invalid argument passed. @item ENOTSUP Realtime Signals Extension option not supported. @end table @subheading DESCRIPTION: This function is used to change the action taken by a process on receipt of the specfic signal @code{sig}. The new action is specified by @code{act} and the previous action is returned via @code{oact}. @subheading NOTES: The signal number cannot be SIGKILL. @c @c @c @page @subsection pthread_kill - Send a Signal to a Thread @findex pthread_kill @cindex send a signal to a thread @subheading CALLING SEQUENCE: @example #include int pthread_kill( pthread_t thread, int sig ); @end example @subheading STATUS CODES: @table @b @item ESRCH The thread indicated by the parameter thread is invalid. @item EINVAL Invalid argument passed. @end table @subheading DESCRIPTION: This functions sends the specified signal @code{sig} to @code{thread}. @subheading NOTES: NONE @c @c @c @page @subsection sigprocmask - Examine and Change Process Blocked Signals @findex sigprocmask @cindex examine and change process blocked signals @subheading CALLING SEQUENCE: @example #include int sigprocmask( int how, const sigset_t *set, sigset_t *oset ); @end example @subheading STATUS CODES: @table @b @item EINVAL Invalid argument passed. @end table @subheading DESCRIPTION: This function is used to alter the set of currently blocked signals on a process wide basis. A blocked signal will not be received by the process. The behavior of this function is dependent on the value of @code{how} which may be one of the following: @table @code @item SIG_BLOCK The set of blocked signals is set to the union of @code{set} and those signals currently blocked. @item SIG_UNBLOCK The signals specific in @code{set} are removed from the currently blocked set. @item SIG_SETMASK The set of currently blocked signals is set to @code{set}. @end table If @code{oset} is not @code{NULL}, then the set of blocked signals prior to this call is returned in @code{oset}. @subheading NOTES: It is not an error to unblock a signal which is not blocked. @c @c @c @page @subsection pthread_sigmask - Examine and Change Thread Blocked Signals @findex pthread_sigmask @cindex examine and change thread blocked signals @subheading CALLING SEQUENCE: @example #include int pthread_sigmask( int how, const sigset_t *set, sigset_t *oset ); @end example @subheading STATUS CODES: @table @b @item EINVAL Invalid argument passed. @end table @subheading DESCRIPTION: This function is used to alter the set of currently blocked signals for the calling thread. A blocked signal will not be received by the process. The behavior of this function is dependent on the value of @code{how} which may be one of the following: @table @code @item SIG_BLOCK The set of blocked signals is set to the union of @code{set} and those signals currently blocked. @item SIG_UNBLOCK The signals specific in @code{set} are removed from the currently blocked set. @item SIG_SETMASK The set of currently blocked signals is set to @code{set}. @end table If @code{oset} is not @code{NULL}, then the set of blocked signals prior to this call is returned in @code{oset}. @subheading NOTES: It is not an error to unblock a signal which is not blocked. @c @c @c @page @subsection kill - Send a Signal to a Process @findex kill @cindex send a signal to a process @subheading CALLING SEQUENCE: @example #include #include int kill( pid_t pid, int sig ); @end example @subheading STATUS CODES: @table @b @item EINVAL Invalid argument passed. @item EPERM Process does not have permission to send the signal to any receiving process. @item ESRCH The process indicated by the parameter pid is invalid. @end table @subheading DESCRIPTION: This function sends the signal @code{sig} to the process @code{pid}. @subheading NOTES: NONE @c @c @c @page @subsection sigpending - Examine Pending Signals @findex sigpending @cindex examine pending signals @subheading CALLING SEQUENCE: @example #include int sigpending( const sigset_t *set ); @end example @subheading STATUS CODES: On error, this routine returns -1 and sets @code{errno} to one of the following: @table @b @item EFAULT Invalid address for set. @end table @subheading DESCRIPTION: This function allows the caller to examine the set of currently pending signals. A pending signal is one which has been raised but is currently blocked. The set of pending signals is returned in @code{set}. @subheading NOTES: NONE @c @c @c @page @subsection sigsuspend - Wait for a Signal @findex sigsuspend @cindex wait for a signal @subheading CALLING SEQUENCE: @example #include int sigsuspend( const sigset_t *sigmask ); @end example @subheading STATUS CODES: On error, this routine returns -1 and sets @code{errno} to one of the following: @table @b @item EINTR Signal interrupted this function. @end table @subheading DESCRIPTION: This function temporarily replaces the signal mask for the process with that specified by @code{sigmask} and blocks the calling thread until the signal is raised. @subheading NOTES: NONE @c @c @c @page @subsection pause - Suspend Process Execution @findex pause @cindex suspend process execution @subheading CALLING SEQUENCE: @example #include int pause( void ); @end example @subheading STATUS CODES: On error, this routine returns -1 and sets @code{errno} to one of the following: @table @b @item EINTR Signal interrupted this function. @end table @subheading DESCRIPTION: This function causes the calling thread to be blocked until an unblocked signal is received. @subheading NOTES: NONE @c @c @c @page @subsection sigwait - Synchronously Accept a Signal @findex sigwait @cindex synchronously accept a signal @subheading CALLING SEQUENCE: @example #include int sigwait( const sigset_t *set, int *sig ); @end example @subheading STATUS CODES: @table @b @item EINVAL Invalid argument passed. @item EINTR Signal interrupted this function. @end table @subheading DESCRIPTION: This function selects a pending signal based on the set specified in @code{set}, atomically clears it from the set of pending signals, and returns the signal number for that signal in @code{sig}. @subheading NOTES: NONE @c @c @c @page @subsection sigwaitinfo - Synchronously Accept a Signal @findex sigwaitinfo @cindex synchronously accept a signal @subheading CALLING SEQUENCE: @example #include int sigwaitinfo( const sigset_t *set, siginfo_t *info ); @end example @subheading STATUS CODES: @table @b @item EINTR Signal interrupted this function. @end table @subheading DESCRIPTION: This function selects a pending signal based on the set specified in @code{set}, atomically clears it from the set of pending signals, and returns information about that signal in @code{info}. @subheading NOTES: NONE @c @c @c @page @subsection sigtimedwait - Synchronously Accept a Signal with Timeout @findex sigtimedwait @cindex synchronously accept a signal with timeout @subheading CALLING SEQUENCE: @example #include int sigtimedwait( const sigset_t *set, siginfo_t *info, const struct timespec *timeout ); @end example @subheading STATUS CODES: @table @b @item EAGAIN Timed out while waiting for the specified signal set. @item EINVAL Nanoseconds field of the timeout argument is invalid. @item EINTR Signal interrupted this function. @end table @subheading DESCRIPTION: This function selects a pending signal based on the set specified in @code{set}, atomically clears it from the set of pending signals, and returns information about that signal in @code{info}. The calling thread will block up to @code{timeout} waiting for the signal to arrive. @subheading NOTES: If @code{timeout} is NULL, then the calling thread will wait forever for the specified signal set. @c @c @c @page @subsection sigqueue - Queue a Signal to a Process @findex sigqueue @cindex queue a signal to a process @subheading CALLING SEQUENCE: @example #include int sigqueue( pid_t pid, int signo, const union sigval value ); @end example @subheading STATUS CODES: @table @b @item EAGAIN No resources available to queue the signal. The process has already queued SIGQUEUE_MAX signals that are still pending at the receiver or the systemwide resource limit has been exceeded. @item EINVAL The value of the signo argument is an invalid or unsupported signal number. @item EPERM The process does not have the appropriate privilege to send the signal to the receiving process. @item ESRCH The process pid does not exist. @end table @subheading DESCRIPTION: This function sends the signal specified by @code{signo} to the process @code{pid} @subheading NOTES: NONE @c @c @c @page @subsection alarm - Schedule Alarm @findex alarm @cindex schedule alarm @subheading CALLING SEQUENCE: @example #include unsigned int alarm( unsigned int seconds ); @end example @subheading STATUS CODES: This call always succeeds. @subheading DESCRIPTION: If there was a previous @code{alarm()} request with time remaining, then this routine returns the number of seconds until that outstanding alarm would have fired. If no previous @code{alarm()} request was outstanding, then zero is returned. @subheading NOTES: NONE