LINUX UNIT 5
Inter-process communication (IPC) is essential for processes to exchange data and
synchronize their actions. Below is an overview of various IPC mechanisms in Linux:
Pipes and Named Pipes (FIFOs)
1. Pipe:
a. Purpose: Allows communication between parent and child processes.
b. Usage: Unidirectional; data flows from the write end to the read end.
c. System Call:
c
int pipe(int pipefd[2]);
2. Process Pipes:
a. Parent and Child Processes: The parent creates a pipe and then forks. Both
the parent and child have access to the pipe.
b. Example:
c
int pipefd[2];
pipe(pipefd);
if (fork() == 0) {
close(pipefd[1]); // Close unused write end
read(pipefd[0], buffer, sizeof(buffer));
close(pipefd[0]);
} else {
close(pipefd[0]); // Close unused read end
write(pipefd[1], "message", strlen("message"));
close(pipefd[1]);
}
3. Named Pipes (FIFOs):
a. Purpose: Similar to pipes but can be used between unrelated processes.
b. System Calls:
c
mkfifo("/tmp/myfifo", 0666);
Semaphores
1. Purpose: Used to control access to a common resource by multiple processes to
avoid critical section problems.
2. System Calls:
a. semget: Creates a new semaphore set or accesses an existing set.
c
int semget(key_t key, int nsems, int semflg);
b. semop: Performs operations on semaphore sets.
c
int semop(int semid, struct sembuf *sops, unsigned nsops);
c. semctl: Performs control operations on semaphore sets.
c
int semctl(int semid, int semnum, int cmd, ...);
Message Queues
1. Purpose: Allows messages to be sent between processes.
2. System Calls:
a. msgget: Creates a new message queue or accesses an existing queue.
c
int msgget(key_t key, int msgflg);
b. msgsnd: Sends a message to a queue.
c
int msgsnd(int msqid, const void *msgp, size_t msgsz, int msgflg);
c. msgrcv: Receives a message from a queue.
c
int msgrcv(int msqid, void *msgp, size_t msgsz, long msgtyp, int
msgflg);
d. msgctl: Performs control operations on message queues.
c
int msgctl(int msqid, int cmd, struct msqid_ds *buf);
Shared Memory
1. Purpose: Allows multiple processes to access a common segment of memory.
2. System Calls:
a. shmget: Allocates a shared memory segment.
c
int shmget(key_t key, size_t size, int shmflg);
b. shmat: Attaches a shared memory segment.
c
void *shmat(int shmid, const void *shmaddr, int shmflg);
c. shmdt: Detaches a shared memory segment.
c
int shmdt(const void *shmaddr);
d. shmctl: Performs control operations on shared memory segments.
c
int shmctl(int shmid, int cmd, struct shmid_ds *buf);
IPC Status Commands
• ipcs: Displays information about active IPC resources.
sh
ipcs
• ipcrm: Removes an IPC resource.
sh
ipcrm -m shmid
Introduction to Sockets
1. Socket: An endpoint for communication between two machines.
2. Socket Connections:
a. Attributes: Specifies the protocol, address, and port.
b. System Calls:
i. socket: Creates a new socket.
c
int socket(int domain, int type, int protocol);
ii. connect: Initiates a connection on a socket.
c
int connect(int sockfd, const struct sockaddr *addr, socklen_t
addrlen);
iii. bind: Binds a socket to an address.
c
int bind(int sockfd, const struct sockaddr *addr, socklen_t addrlen);
iv. listen: Listens for connections on a socket.
c
int listen(int sockfd, int backlog);
v. accept: Accepts a connection on a socket.
c
int accept(int sockfd, struct sockaddr *addr, socklen_t *addrlen);
3. Socket Communications: Once connected, sockets can send and receive data
using send, recv, write, and read.
