select()--Wait for Events on Multiple Sockets

 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <sys/time.h>

 int select(int max_descriptor,
            fd_set *read_set,
            fd_set *write_set,
            fd_set *exception_set,
            struct timeval *wait_time)

The select() function is used to enable an application to multiplex I/O. By using select(), an application with multiple interactive I/O sources avoids blocking on one I/O stream while the other stream is ready. Thus, for example, an application that receives inputs from two distinct communication endpoints (using sockets) can use select() to sleep until input is available from either of the sources. When input is available, the application wakes up and receives an indication as to which descriptor is ready for reading.

The application identifies descriptors to be checked for read, write, and exception status and specifies a timeout value. If any of the specified descriptors is ready for the specified event (read, write, or exception), select() returns, indicating which descriptors are ready. Otherwise, the process waits until one of the specified events occur or the wait times out.

Parameters

max_descriptor

(Input) Descriptors are numbered starting at zero, so the max_descriptor parameter must specify a value that is one greater than the largest descriptor number that is to be tested.

read_set

(I/O) A pointer to a set of descriptors that should be checked to see if they are ready for reading. This parameter is a value-result field. Each descriptor to be tested should be added to the set by issuing a FD_SET() macro. If no descriptor is to be tested for reading, read_set should be NULL (or point to an empty set). On return from the call, only those descriptors that are ready to be read are in the set. FD_ISSET() should be used to test for membership of a descriptor in the set.

write_set

(I/O) A pointer to a set of descriptors that should be checked to see if they are ready for writing. This parameter is a value-result field. Each descriptor to be tested should be added to the set by issuing a FD_SET() macro. If no descriptor is to be tested for writing, write_set should be NULL (or point to an empty set). On return from the call, only those descriptors that are ready to be written are in the set. FD_ISSET() should be used to test for membership of a descriptor in the set.

exception_set

(I/O) A pointer to a set of descriptors that should be checked for pending exception events. This parameter is a value-result field. Each descriptor to be tested should be added to the set by issuing a FD_SET() macro. If no descriptor is to be tested for exceptions, exception_set should be NULL (or point to an empty set). On return from the call, only those descriptors that have an exception event are in the set. FD_ISSET() should be used to test for membership of a descriptor in the set.

wait_time

(Input) A pointer to a structure which specifies the maximum time to wait for at least one of the selection criteria to be met. A time to wait of 0 is allowed; this returns immediately with the current status of the sockets. The parameter may be specified even if NO descriptors are specified (select() is being used as a timer). If wait_time is NULL, select() blocks indefinitely. The structure pointed to by the wait_time parameter is defined in <sys/time.h>.

Authorities

No authorization is required.

Return Value

select() returns an integer. Possible values are:

• -1 (unsuccessful)
  
  
• 0 (if the time limit expires)
  
  
• n (total number of descriptors in all sets that met selection criteria)

Note: The timeval structure (pointed to by wait_time) is unchanged.

Error Conditions

When select() fails, errno can be set to one of the following:

Error Messages

Usage Notes

1. The poll() API is more efficient than the select() API and therefore poll() is always recommended over select().
   
   
2. An application program must include the header file <sys/types.h> to use select(). The header file contains the type and macro definitions needed to use select(). The maximum number of descriptors that can be selected is defined by FD_SETSIZE. See DosSetRelMaxFH() for additional considerations when select() and DosSetRelMaxFH() are used within the same process.

   The following macros can be used to manipulate descriptor sets:

   • FD_ZERO(fd_set *p) removes all descriptors from the set specified by p.
     
     
   • FD_CLR(int n, fd_set *p) removes descriptor n from the set specified by p.
     
     
   • FD_SET(int n, fd_set *p) adds descriptor n to the set specified by p.
     
     
   • FD_ISSET(int n, fd_set *p) returns a nonzero value if descriptor n is returned in the set specified by p; otherwise, a zero value is returned.

   Note: Values of type fd_set should only be manipulated by the macros supplied in the <sys/types.h> header file.

3. A descriptor can be returned in the set specified by read_set to indicate one of the following:
   • An error event exists on the descriptor.
     
     
   • A connection request is pending on a socket descriptor. This technique can be used to wait for connections on multiple socket descriptors. When a listening socket is returned in the set specified by read_set, an application can then issue an accept() call to accept the connection.
     
     
   • No data can be read from the underlying instance represented by the descriptor. For example, a socket descriptor for which a shutdown() call has been done to disable the reception of data.
   
   
   
4. A descriptor can be returned in the set specified by write_set to indicate one of the following:
   • Completion of a non-blocking connect() call on a socket descriptor. This allows an application to set a socket descriptor to nonblocking (with fcntl() or ioctl()), issue a connect() and receive [EINPROGRESS], and then use select() to verify that the connection has completed.
     
     
   • No data can be written to the underlying instance represented by the descriptor (for example, a socket descriptor for which a shutdown() has been done to disable the sending of data).
     
     
   • When a write() can be successfully issued without blocking (or, for nonblocking, so it does not return [EWOULDBLOCK]).
   
   
   
5. A socket descriptor is returned in the set specified by exception_set to indicate that out-of-band data has arrived at the socket. This is only supported for connection-oriented sockets with an address family of AF_INET or AF_INET6.
   
   
6. Unpredictable results will appear if this function or any of its associated type and macro definitions are used in a thread executing one of the scan-related exit programs (or any of its' created threads). See Integrated File System Scan on Open Exit Programs and Integrated File System Scan on Close Exit Programs for more information.

Related Information

• poll()--Wait for events on Multiple Sockets
• DosSetRelMaxFH()--Change Maximum Number of File Descriptors