xref: /openbsd-src/lib/libutil/pidfile.3 (revision 86f9d4cdda0e0267dccd8755ac0035525579c4a7)
1*86f9d4cdStedu.\"	$OpenBSD: pidfile.3,v 1.7 2013/06/05 03:40:26 tedu Exp $
27ed310cbSjakob.\"	$NetBSD: pidfile.3,v 1.2 2001/04/12 22:34:31 sommerfeld Exp $
37ed310cbSjakob.\"
47ed310cbSjakob.\" Copyright (c) 1999 The NetBSD Foundation, Inc.
57ed310cbSjakob.\" All rights reserved.
67ed310cbSjakob.\"
77ed310cbSjakob.\" This code is derived from software contributed to The NetBSD Foundation
87ed310cbSjakob.\" by Jason R. Thorpe.
97ed310cbSjakob.\"
107ed310cbSjakob.\" Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
117ed310cbSjakob.\" modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
127ed310cbSjakob.\" are met:
137ed310cbSjakob.\" 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
147ed310cbSjakob.\"    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
157ed310cbSjakob.\" 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
167ed310cbSjakob.\"    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
177ed310cbSjakob.\"    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
187ed310cbSjakob.\"
197ed310cbSjakob.\" THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE NETBSD FOUNDATION, INC. AND CONTRIBUTORS
207ed310cbSjakob.\" ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
217ed310cbSjakob.\" TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
227ed310cbSjakob.\" PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE FOUNDATION OR CONTRIBUTORS
237ed310cbSjakob.\" BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
247ed310cbSjakob.\" CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
257ed310cbSjakob.\" SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
267ed310cbSjakob.\" INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
277ed310cbSjakob.\" CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
287ed310cbSjakob.\" ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
297ed310cbSjakob.\" POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
307ed310cbSjakob.\"
31*86f9d4cdStedu.Dd $Mdocdate: June 5 2013 $
327ed310cbSjakob.Dt PIDFILE 3
337ed310cbSjakob.Os
347ed310cbSjakob.Sh NAME
357ed310cbSjakob.Nm pidfile
367ed310cbSjakob.Nd write a daemon pid file
377ed310cbSjakob.Sh SYNOPSIS
38*86f9d4cdStedu.In util.h
397ed310cbSjakob.Ft int
407ed310cbSjakob.Fn pidfile "const char *basename"
417ed310cbSjakob.Sh DESCRIPTION
427ed310cbSjakob.Fn pidfile
437ed310cbSjakobwrites a file containing the process ID of the program to the
447ed310cbSjakob.Pa /var/run
4548a5a71aSmpechdirectory.
4648a5a71aSmpechThe file name has the form
477ed310cbSjakob.Pa /var/run/basename.pid .
487ed310cbSjakobIf the
497ed310cbSjakob.Ar basename
507ed310cbSjakobargument is NULL,
517ed310cbSjakob.Nm
527ed310cbSjakobwill determine the program name and use that instead.
537ed310cbSjakob.Pp
547ed310cbSjakobThe pid file can be used as a quick reference if
5548a5a71aSmpechthe process needs to be sent a signal.
5648a5a71aSmpechWhen the program exits, the pid file will be removed automatically,
5748a5a71aSmpechunless the program receives a fatal signal.
587ed310cbSjakob.Sh RETURN VALUES
597ed310cbSjakob.Fn pidfile
607ed310cbSjakobreturns 0 on success and -1 on failure.
617ed310cbSjakob.Sh SEE ALSO
627ed310cbSjakob.Xr atexit 3
637ed310cbSjakob.Sh HISTORY
647ed310cbSjakobThe
657ed310cbSjakob.Nm
667ed310cbSjakobfunction call appeared in
677ed310cbSjakob.Ox 3.0 .
686400e211Sjakob.Sh CAVEATS
696400e211SjakobIf
706400e211Sjakob.Fn pidfile
716400e211Sjakobis called multiple times with different
726400e211Sjakob.Ar basename ,
736400e211Sjakobonly the last pidfile will be removed upon exit.
7483024207Smiod.Pp
7583024207Smiod.Fn pidfile
7683024207Smioduses
7783024207Smiod.Fn atexit
7883024207Smiodto ensure the pidfile is unlinked at program exit.
7983024207SmiodHowever, programs that use the
8083024207Smiod.Fn _exit
8183024207Smiodfunction (for example, in signal handlers)
8283024207Smiodwill not trigger this behaviour.
83