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semget(2)

HP-UX 11i Version 3: February 2007
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NAME

semget — get set of semaphores

SYNOPSIS

#include <sys/sem.h>

int semget(key_t key, int nsems, int semflg);

DESCRIPTION

semget() returns the semaphore identifier associated with key.

A semaphore identifier and associated data structure and set containing nsems semaphores are created for key if one of the following is true:

  • key is equal to IPC_PRIVATE. This call creates a new identifier, subject to available resources. The identifier is never returned by another call to semget() until it has been released by a call to semctl(). The identifier should be used among the calling process and its descendents; however, it is not a requirement. The resource can be accessed by any process having the proper permissions.

  • key does not already have a semaphore identifier associated with it, and (semflg & IPC_CREAT) is "true".

Specific behavior can be requested by ORing the following masks into semflg.

  • IPC_CREAT: Create a semaphore identifier if one does not already exist for key.

  • IPC_EXCL: If IPC_CREAT is specified and key already has a semaphore identifier associated with it, return an error.

The low-order 9 bits of semflg are the semaphore operation permissions which are defined in glossary(9).

Upon creation, the data structure associated with the new semaphore identifier is initialized as follows:

  • In the operation-permission structure, sem_perm.cuid and sem_perm.uid are set equal to the effective-user-ID of the calling process, while sem_perm.cgid and sem_perm.gid are set to the effective-group-ID of the calling process.

  • The low-order 9 bits of sem_perm.mode are set equal to the low-order 9 bits of semflg.

  • sem_nsems is set equal to the value of nsems.

  • sem_otime is set equal to 0 and sem_ctime is set equal to the current time.

Security Restrictions

Some or all of the actions associated with this system call are subject to compartmental restrictions. See compartments(5) for more information about compartmentalization on systems that support that feature. Compartmental restrictions can be overridden if the process possesses the COMMALLOWED privilege (PRIV_COMMALLOWED). Processes owned by the superuser may not have this privilege. Processes owned by any user may have this privilege, depending on system configuration.

See privileges(5) for more information about privileged access on systems that support fine-grained privileges.

EXAMPLES

The following call to semget() returns a semid associated with the key returned by ftok("myfile", 'A'). If a semid associated with the key does not exist, a new semid, set of 4 semaphores, and associated data structure will be created. If a semid for the key already exists, the semid is simply returned.

int semid; mysemid = semget (ftok("myfile",'A'), 4, IPC_CREAT | 0600);

RETURN VALUE

Upon successful completion, a non-negative integer, namely a semaphore identifier, is returned. Otherwise, a value of -1 is returned and errno is set to indicate the error.

ERRORS

semget() fails if one or more of the following is true:

EINVAL

nsems is either less than or equal to zero or greater than the system-imposed limit.

EACCES

A semaphore identifier exists for key, but operation permission as specified by the low-order 9 bits of semflg would not be granted.

EINVAL

A semaphore identifier exists for key, but the number of semaphores in the set associated with it is less than nsems, and nsems is not equal to zero.

ENOENT

A semaphore identifier does not exist for key and (semflg & IPC_CREAT) is "false".

ENOSPC

A semaphore identifier is to be created, but the system-imposed limit on the maximum number of allowed semaphore identifiers system wide would be exceeded.

EEXIST

A semaphore identifier exists for key but ((semflg& IPC_CREAT) && (semflg & IPC_EXCL)) is "true".

SEE ALSO

ipcrm(1), ipcs(1), semctl(2), semop(2), stdipc(3C).

STANDARDS CONFORMANCE

semget(): SVID2, SVID3, XPG2, XPG3, XPG4

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