fsync()--Synchronize Changes to File

 #include <unistd.h>

 int fsync(int file_descriptor);  

The fsync() function transfers all data for the file indicated by the open file descriptor file_descriptor to the storage device associated with file_descriptor. fsync() does not return until the transfer is complete, or until an error is detected.

Parameters

file_descriptor

(Input) The file descriptor of the file that is to have its modified data written to permanent storage.

Authorities

No authorization is required. Authorization is verified during open() or creat().

Return Value

0

fsync() was successful.

-1

fsync() was not successful. The errno global variable is set to indicate the error.

Error Conditions

If fsync() is not successful, errno usually indicates one of the following errors. Under some conditions, errno could indicate an error other than those listed here.

If interaction with a file server is required to access the object, errno could indicate one of the following errors:

Error Messages

The following messages may be sent from this function:

Usage Notes

1. This function will fail with error code [ENOTSAFE] when all the following conditions are true:
   
   
   • Where multiple threads exist in the job.
     
   • The object on which this function is operating resides in a file system that is not threadsafe. Only the following file systems are threadsafe for this function:
     
     
     • "Root" (/)
     • QOpenSys
     • User-defined
     • QNTC
     • QSYS.LIB
     • Independent ASP QSYS.LIB
     • QOPT
     • Network File System
     • QFileSvr.400
     
     
2. Using this function on a character special file will result in a return value of -1 and the errno global value set to EINVAL.

Related Information

• The <unistd.h> file (see Header Files for UNIX-Type Functions)
  
• fclear()--Write (Binary Zeros) to Descriptor
  
• fclear64()--Write (Binary Zeros) to Descriptor (Large File Enabled)
  
• open()--Open File
  
• write()--Write to Descriptor

Example

See Code disclaimer information for information pertaining to code examples.

The following example uses fsync():

#include <unistd.h>
#include <sys/types.h>
#include <sys/stat.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

#define mega_string_len 250000

main() {
  char *mega_string;
  int  file_descriptor;
  int  ret;
  char fn[]="fsync.file";

  if ((mega_string = (char*) malloc(mega_string_len)) == NULL)
    perror("malloc() error");
  else if ((file_descriptor = creat(fn, S_IWUSR)) < 0)
    perror("creat() error");
  else {
    memset(mega_string, 's', mega_string_len);
    if ((ret = write(file_descriptor,
                     mega_string, mega_string_len)) == -1)
      perror("write() error");
    else {
      printf("write() wrote %d bytes\n", ret);
      if (fsync(file_descriptor) != 0)
        perror("fsync() error");
      else if ((ret = write(file_descriptor,
                            mega_string, mega_string_len)) == -1)
        perror("write() error");
      else
        printf("write() wrote %d bytes\n", ret);
    }
    close(file_descriptor);
    unlink(fn);
  }
  free(mega_string);
}

Output:

write() wrote 250000 bytes
write() wrote 250000 bytes