NAME

semop − semaphore operations

SYNOPSIS

#include <sys/types.h>
#include <sys/ipc.h>
#include <sys/sem.h>

int semop (semid, sops, nsops)
int semid;
struct sembuf ∗∗sops;
unsigned nsops;

DESCRIPTION

semop is used to perform an array of semaphore operations automatically on the set of semaphores associated with the semaphore identifier specified by semid. sops is a pointer to the array of semaphore-operation structures.  nsops is the number of such structures in the array.  The contents of each structure includes the following members:

shortsem_num;/∗ semaphore number ∗/
shortsem_op;/∗ semaphore operation ∗/
shortsem_flg;/∗ operation flags ∗/

Each semaphore operation specified by sem_op is performed on the corresponding semaphore specified by semid and sem_num.

sem_op specifies one of three semaphore operations as follows:

If sem_op is a negative integer, one of the following occurs: ­{ALTER}

If semval [see intro(2)] is greater than or equal to the absolute value of sem_op, the absolute value of sem_op is subtracted from semval.  Also, if (sem_flg & SEM_UNDO) is “true”, the absolute value of sem_op is added to the calling process’s semadj value [see exit(2)] for the specified semaphore.

If semval is less than the absolute value of sem_op and (sem_flg & IPC_NOWAIT) is “true”, semop returns immediately. 

If semval is less than the absolute value of sem_op and (sem_flg & IPC_NOWAIT) is “false”, semop increments the semncnt associated with the specified semaphore and suspend execution of the calling process until one of the following conditions occurs:

Semval becomes greater than or equal to the absolute value of sem_op. When this occurs, the value of semncnt associated with the specified semaphore is decremented, the absolute value of sem_op is subtracted from semval and, if (sem_flg & SEM_UNDO) is “true”, the absolute value of sem_op is added to the calling process’s semadj value for the specified semaphore. 

The semid for which the calling process is awaiting action is removed from the system [see semctl(2)]. When this occurs, errno is set equal to EIDRM, and a value of −1 is returned. 

The calling process receives a signal that is to be caught.  When this occurs, the value of semncnt associated with the specified semaphore is decremented, and the calling process resumes execution in the manner prescribed in signal(2).

If sem_op is a positive integer, the value of sem_op is added to semval and, if (sem_flg & SEM_UNDO) is “true”, the value of sem_op is subtracted from the calling process’s semadj value for the specified semaphore.  ­{ALTER}

If sem_op is zero, one of the following occurs: ­{READ}

If semval is zero, semop returns immediately. 

If semval is not equal to zero and (sem_flg & IPC_NOWAIT) is “true”, semop returns immediately. 

If semval is not equal to zero and (sem_flg & IPC_NOWAIT) is “false”, semop increments the semzcnt associated with the specified semaphore and suspend execution of the calling process until one of the following occurs:

Semval becomes zero, at which time the value of semzcnt associated with the specified semaphore is decremented. 

The semid for which the calling process is awaiting action is removed from the system.  When this occurs, errno is set equal to EIDRM, and a value of −1 is returned. 

The calling process receives a signal that is to be caught.  When this occurs, the value of semzcnt associated with the specified semaphore is decremented, and the calling process resumes execution in the manner prescribed in signal(2).

semop fails if one or more of the following are true for any of the semaphore operations specified by sops:

­[EINVAL]
semid is not a valid semaphore identifier. 

­[EFBIG] sem_num is less than zero or greater than or equal to the number of semaphores in the set associated with semid.

­[E2BIG] nsops is greater than the system-imposed maximum. 

­[EACCES] Operation permission is denied to the calling process [see intro(2)]

­[EAGAIN] The operation would result in suspension of the calling process but (sem_flg & IPC_NOWAIT) is “true”. 

­[ENOSPC] The limit on the number of individual  processes requesting an SEM_UNDO would be exceeded. 

­[EINVAL] The number of individual semaphores for which the calling process requests a SEM_UNDO would exceed the limit. 

­[ERANGE] An operation would cause a semval to overflow the system-imposed limit. 

­[ERANGE] An operation would cause a semadj value to overflow the system-imposed limit. 

­[EFAULT] sops points to an illegal address. 

Upon successful completion, the value of sempid for each semaphore specified in the array pointed to by sops is set equal to the process ID of the calling process. 

SEE ALSO

exec(2), exit(2), fork(2), intro(2), semctl(2), semget(2)

DIAGNOSTICS

If semop returns due to the receipt of a signal, a value of −1 is returned to the calling process and errno is set to ­EINTR.  If it returns due to the removal of a semid from the system, a value of −1 is returned and errno is set to ­EIDRM. 

Upon successful completion, a value of zero is returned.  Otherwise, a value of −1 is returned and errno is set to indicate the error. 

September 02, 1992