Synchronize threads from different processes using semaphore - c

I have problem with semaphore in C. I have a parent process and a child process. Both can create 3 threads and I must display the beginning and the end of threads and I must impose the next condition: the thread with id 1 from parent process must display its beginning after the thread with id 2 from child process display its end. I use a semaphore, but when I do wait, the thread with id 1 from parent process it doesn't remain stuck at semaphore and continue to display the beginning. I can't use function usleep() or sleep().
#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <sys/types.h>
#include <sys/wait.h>
#include <pthread.h>
#include <semaphore.h>
sem_t* s=NULL;
void* function1(void* arg)
{
int* nrth=(int*) arg;
sem_t * s=NULL;
s=sem_open("mysemaphore",O_EXCL);
if(s==NULL)
perror("Error");
if(*nrth==1)
sem_wait(s);
printf("Begin P1, thread %d\n",*nrth);
printf("End P1, thread %d\n",*nrth);
sem_close(s);
return 0;
}
void* function2(void* arg)
{
int* nrth=(int*) arg;
sem_t * s=NULL;
s=sem_open("mysemaphore",O_EXCL);
if(s==NULL)
perror("Error");
printf("Begin P2, thread %d\n",*nrth);
printf("End P2, thread %d\n",*nrth);
if(*nrth==2)
sem_post(s);
sem_close(s);
return 0;
}
int main()
{
sem_unlink("mysemaphore");
s=sem_open("mysemaphore",O_CREAT,0644,1);
if(s==NULL)
perror("ERROR!");
pthread_t threads[4];
int index[4];
pthread_t threads2[4];
int index2[4];
if(fork()==0)
{
printf("Begin: process 2 \n");
for(int i=1; i<=3; i++)
{
index2[i]=i;
pthread_create(&threads2[i],NULL,function2,&index2[i]);
}
for(int i=1; i<=3; i++)
{
pthread_join(threads2[i],NULL);
}
printf("End: process 2 \n");
}
else
{
printf("Begin: process 1\n");
for(int i=1; i<=3; i++)
{
index[i]=i;
pthread_create(&threads[i],NULL,function1,&index[i]);
}
for(int i=1; i<=3; i++)
{
pthread_join(threads[i],NULL);
}
printf("End: process 2 \n");
wait(NULL);
}
return 0;
}

You are destroying your semaphore in both function1() and function2() when you call sem_destroy(), after which the behavior of that semaphore is undefined. That may be your biggest problem.
You should be using sem_close() instead after you are finished using the semaphore that you obtained from sem_open().

Related

C pthreads threads not executing functions for producer-consumer problem

Hi I am trying to implement an solution to producer consumer problem with threads and semaphores.
I have the two functions that the threads consumer and producer will call but they aren't executing. I am not sure what I am doing wrong as I am not getting any errors, my program is just not executing the thread functions. I am creating and joining the thread, I am not sure what is causing the issue
#include <stdio.h>
#include <pthread.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <semaphore.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <errno.h>
#include "buffer.h"
struct bufferStruct *item; //calls buffer structure from buffer.h
pthread_mutex_t mutex; //lock for synchronizing execution of threads(producer and consumer)
sem_t empty; //indicates buffer is empty
sem_t full; //indicates buffer is full
int input = 0;
int newitem;
pthread_attr_t attr;
void *producer(void *param)
{
for(int i = 0; i < 5; i++)
{
sem_wait(&empty);
pthread_mutex_lock(&mutex);
newitem = rand();
item->content[item->in] = newitem;
printf("Producer prouced item %d at position %d in buffer\n", newitem, item->in);
item->in = (item->in+1) % MAX_SIZE;
pthread_mutex_unlock(&mutex);
sem_post(&full);
sleep(1);
}
}
void *consumer(void * param)
{
for(int i =0; i< 5; i++)
{
sem_wait(&full);
pthread_mutex_lock(&mutex);
newitem = item->content[item->out];
printf("Consumer has consumed item %d at position %d in buffer\n", newitem, item->out);
item->out = (item->out+1) % MAX_SIZE;
pthread_mutex_unlock(&mutex);
sem_post(&empty);
sleep(1);
}
}
int main()
{
int initval = 1;
int initval2 = 2;
sem_init(&full, 1, 0);
sem_init(&empty, 1, MAX_SIZE);
if(pthread_mutex_init(&mutex,NULL)!=0){
printf("Mutex init failed\n");
return 1;
}
pthread_attr_init(&attr);
pthread_t thread_produce, thread_consume;
printf("Starting threads...\n");
pthread_create(&thread_produce, &attr, producer, (void*)&(initval));
pthread_create(&thread_consume, &attr, consumer, (void*)&(initval2));
pthread_join(thread_produce, NULL);
pthread_join(thread_consume, NULL);
printf("Threads done executing...\n");
pthread_mutex_destroy(&mutex);
sem_destroy(&empty);
sem_destroy(&full);
exit(0);
}
You declare
struct bufferStruct *item;
then you use item without ever assigning it to point to anything. Undefined behavior results.
If I fix that (first synthesizing a version struct bufferStruct and choosing a MAX_SIZE) then the program compiles without error and seems to run successfully.

Mutex Deadlock (pthread_mutex)

I can't understand why in this code I get a deadlock.
I have defined this mutexes:
mutex3: = 0 (LOCKED)
mutex2: = 1 (UNLOCKED)
I have 2 processes: Father and son. Each has N threads that I pass by argument. The child's threads contend with the father's threads a "resource" (typical producer / consumer problem).
Thanks in advance!
I suppose the problem is here:
void * func_padre(void * n)
{
while(1)
{
pthread_mutex_lock(&mutex2);
printf("Scrivi messaggio: ");
fflush(stdout);
scanf("%[^\n]",(char *)addr_mem);
getchar();
pthread_mutex_unlock(&mutex3);
}
}
void * func_figlio(void * n)
{
while(1)
{
pthread_mutex_lock(&mutex3);
write(fd,addr_mem,4096);
lseek(fd,0,SEEK_SET);
memset(addr_mem,0,4096);
pthread_mutex_unlock(&mutex2);
}
}
CODE:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <pthread.h>
#include <sys/types.h>
#include <sys/stat.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
#include <sys/ipc.h>
#include <sys/shm.h>
#include <string.h>
void * addr_mem;
pthread_mutex_t mutex2,mutex3;
int fd;
void * func_padre(void * n)
{
while(1)
{
pthread_mutex_lock(&mutex2);
printf("Scrivi messaggio: ");
fflush(stdout);
scanf("%[^\n]",(char *)addr_mem);
getchar();
pthread_mutex_unlock(&mutex3);
}
}
void * func_figlio(void * n)
{
while(1)
{
pthread_mutex_lock(&mutex3);
write(fd,addr_mem,4096);
lseek(fd,0,SEEK_SET);
memset(addr_mem,0,4096);
pthread_mutex_unlock(&mutex2);
}
}
int main(int argc, char*argv[])
{
if(argc<2)
{
printf("POCHI PARAMETRI\n");
fflush(stdout);
exit(-1);
}
int val=strtol(argv[2],0,10);
fd = open(argv[1],O_CREAT|O_RDWR,0666);
lseek(fd,0,SEEK_SET);//USELESS
///SHARED MEMORY
int id_mem;
id_mem = shmget(6543,4096,IPC_CREAT|0666);
addr_mem = shmat(id_mem,NULL,0);
/////////////////////
/// MUTEX
pthread_mutex_init(&mutex2,NULL);
pthread_mutex_init(&mutex3,NULL);
pthread_mutex_lock(&mutex3);
/////////////////////
pthread_t tid;
int i=0;
int pid;
pid = fork();
if(pid==0)
{
//CHILD
for(i=0; i<val; i++)
pthread_create(&tid,NULL,func_figlio,NULL);
while(1)
{
pthread_mutex_lock(&mutex3);
write(fd,addr_mem,4096);
memset(addr_mem,0,4096);
pthread_mutex_unlock(&mutex2);
}
}
else
{
//FATHER
for(i=0; i<val; i++)
pthread_create(&tid,NULL,func_padre,NULL);
while(1)
{
pthread_mutex_lock(&mutex2);
printf("Scrivi messaggio: ");
fflush(stdout);
scanf("%[^\n]",(char *)addr_mem);
getchar();
pthread_mutex_unlock(&mutex3);
}
}
}
Your problem is not a deadlock, it's just buggy code. A thread cannot unlock a mutex it did not lock. Your while loops all unlock mutexes they do not hold and never unlock the mutexes they do hold.
suggest:
have global variable that is cycled through a limited set of values, say: 0, 1, 0 ...
Use the mutex to stop other threads from progressing, I.E.
When a call (in thread) returns from locking the mutex,
then check
if the value in the global variable is for 'this' thread.
then
process the thread activities,
increment the global variable,
endif
endif
unlock the mutex
call nanosleep() to delay for a while to allow other threads to run

process stuck in waiting

I'm having trouble with threads synchronization on Linux. I must generate the process hierarchy from this picture ( this part i managed to do).
But next I have to synchronize threads from different processes. The process P2 must create 6 threads and the process P6 must create 5 threads. And then the thread 5 from P2 must only start after the thread 3 from P6 has completed. I use conditional variables, but while I'm waiting for the thread 3 from P6 to end, process 2 remain blocked and I never reach to process 6 to create his threads. The function info is used to display the beginning and the end of the thread.
I cannot use sleep or usleep
#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <sys/types.h>
#include <sys/wait.h>
#include <pthread.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
#include <sys/stat.h>
#include <semaphore.h>
pthread_cond_t p2_t4=PTHREAD_COND_INITIALIZER;
pthread_mutex_t lock1=PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;
int end=-1;
void* function(void* arg)
{
int* nrth=(int*) arg;
info(BEGIN,6,*nrth);
info(END,6,*nrth);
pthread_mutex_lock(&lock1);
if(*nrth==3)
{
end=1;
pthread_cond_signal(&p2_t4);
}
pthread_mutex_unlock(&lock1);
return 0;
}
void* function2(void* arg)
{
int* nrth=(int*) arg;
pthread_mutex_lock(&lock1);
if(*nrth==4)
{
while(end==-1)
pthread_cond_wait(&p2_t4,&lock1);
}
pthread_mutex_unlock(&lock1);
info(BEGIN,2,*nrth);
info(END,2,*nrth);
return 0;
}
int main()
{
pthread_t threads[6];
int index[5];
pthread_t threads2[7];
int index2[7];
if(fork()!=0)
{
//info(BEGIN,1,0);
wait(NULL);
if(fork()!=0)
{
wait(NULL);
}
else
{
//info(BEGIN,3,0);
if(fork()!=0)
{
wait(NULL);
if(fork()!=0)
{
wait(NULL);
}
else
{
//info(BEGIN,6,0);
for(int i=1; i<=5; i++)
{
index[i]=i;
pthread_create(&threads[i],NULL,function,&index[i]);
}
for(int i=1; i<=5; i++)
{
pthread_join(threads[i],NULL);
}
//info(END,6,0);
//info(END,3,0);
//info(END,1,0);
}
}
else
{
//info(BEGIN,5,0);
//info(END,5,0);
}
}
}
else
{
//info(BEGIN,7,0);
wait(NULL);
for(int i=1; i<=6; i++)
{
index2[i]=i;
pthread_create(&threads2[i],NULL,function2,&index2[i]);
}
for(int i=1; i<=6; i++)
{
pthread_join(threads2[i],NULL);
}
if(fork()!=0)
{
wait(NULL);
if(fork()!=0)
{
wait(NULL);
}
else
{
//info(BEGIN,7,0);
//info(END,7,0);
//info(END,2,0);
}
}
else
{
//info(BEGIN,4,0);
//info(END,4,0);
}
}
return 0;
}
To generate that process tree the main process must do 2 calls to fork to create 2 child processes. This code blocks the main process after the first fork. The process creating code must be redone.
The mutexes and condition variables are not shared between the processes because each process has its own private address space. The mutexes and condition variables must be placed in shared memory in order to be shared across processes. Alteratively, use POSIX semaphores.

Can I signal multiple threads simultaneously with pthread_cond_wait(,)?

I am writing various code snippets and see what happens. The code below was intended to delay all threads until all reached a certain point in the code and then make each print a distinctive number. Since the threads all do that, the numbers should occur in a random order.
My current problem is that I keep they threads busy waiting. If the number of threads gets big, the program slows down significantly.
I would like to change that by using signals, I found pthread_cond_wait() for that, however I don't see how one would use that to signal all threads that they would please wake up.
#include <pthread.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#define threads 10
int counter=0;
pthread_mutex_t lock;
void handler(void *v) {
pthread_mutex_lock(&lock);
counter++;
printf("%d\n", counter);
pthread_mutex_unlock(&lock);
while(counter != threads); // busy waiting
printf("I am first! %d\n", v);
}
int main() {
pthread_t t[threads];
for(int i =0; i < threads; i++) {
pthread_create(&t[i], NULL, handler, (void*) i);
}
for(int i =0; i < threads; i++) {
pthread_join(t[i], NULL);
}
return 0;
}
EDIT: I changed the code to the following, however, it still does not work :/
pthread_mutex_t lock;
pthread_cond_t cv;
void handler(void *v) {
pthread_mutex_lock(&lock);
pthread_cond_wait(&cv, &lock);
printf("I am first! %d\n", v);
pthread_mutex_unlock(&lock);
}
int main() {
pthread_t t[threads];
for(int i =0; i < threads; i++)
pthread_create(&t[i], NULL, handler, (void*) i);
sleep(2);
pthread_cond_signal(&cv);
for(int i =0; i < threads; i++)
pthread_join(t[i], NULL);
return 0;
}
use broadcast()?
http://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/009696699/functions/pthread_cond_broadcast.html
The pthread_cond_broadcast() function shall unblock all threads currently blocked on the specified condition variable cond.
The pthread_cond_signal() function shall unblock at least one of the threads that are blocked on the specified condition variable cond (if any threads are blocked on cond).
An alternative solution to pthread_cond_broadcast() might be the following.
You define a read-write mutex and lock it in write in the main thread before creating the other threads. The other threads will try to acquire a read-lock but since the main thread have a write-lock they will be blocked.
After the creation of all thread the main-thread releases the lock. All the other threads will be waken up and since many read-locks can coexist the will execute simultaneously (i.e. no one will be locked).
Code might be something like:
pthread_rwlock_t lock;
void handler(void *v) {
if ((res = pthread_rwlock_rdlock(&lock)!=0)
{
exit(1);
}
printf("I am first! %d\n", v);
pthread_rwlock_unlock(&lock);
}
int main() {
pthread_t t[threads];
//First acquire the write lock:
if ((res = pthread_rwlock_wrlock(&lock)!=0)
{
exit(1);
}
for(int i =0; i < threads; i++)
{
pthread_create(&t[i], NULL, handler, (void*) i);
//it is not clear if you want sleep inside the loop or not
// You indented it as if to be inside but not put brackets
sleep(2);
}
pthread_rwlock_unlock(&lock);
for(int i =0; i < threads; i++)
pthread_join(t[i], NULL);
pthread_rwlock_destroy(&lock);
return 0;
}
Try posting the matching remove_from_buffer code.
Better yet, Short, Self Contained, Correct Example
Make a short main() with two threads.
One thread adds to the buffer at random intervals.
The other thread removes from the buffer at random intervals.
Example
CELEBP22
/* CELEBP22 */
#define _OPEN_THREADS
#include <pthread.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <time.h>
#include <unistd.h>
pthread_cond_t cond;
pthread_mutex_t mutex;
int footprint = 0;
void *thread(void *arg) {
time_t T;
if (pthread_mutex_lock(&mutex) != 0) {
perror("pthread_mutex_lock() error");
exit(6);
}
time(&T);
printf("starting wait at %s", ctime(&T));
footprint++;
if (pthread_cond_wait(&cond, &mutex) != 0) {
perror("pthread_cond_timedwait() error");
exit(7);
}
time(&T);
printf("wait over at %s", ctime(&T));
}
main() {
pthread_t thid;
time_t T;
struct timespec t;
if (pthread_mutex_init(&mutex, NULL) != 0) {
perror("pthread_mutex_init() error");
exit(1);
}
if (pthread_cond_init(&cond, NULL) != 0) {
perror("pthread_cond_init() error");
exit(2);
}
if (pthread_create(&thid, NULL, thread, NULL) != 0) {
perror("pthread_create() error");
exit(3);
}
while (footprint == 0)
sleep(1);
puts("IPT is about ready to release the thread");
sleep(2);
if (pthread_cond_signal(&cond) != 0) {
perror("pthread_cond_signal() error");
exit(4);
}
if (pthread_join(thid, NULL) != 0) {
perror("pthread_join() error");
exit(5);
}
}
OUTPUT
starting wait at Fri Jun 16 10:54:06 2006 IPT is about ready to
release the thread wait over at Fri Jun 16 10:54:09 2006

C - synchronizing multiple threads w/ mutexs

I'm trying to synchronize multiple (7) threads. I thought I understood how they work until I was trying it on my code and my threads were still printing out of order. Here is the code:
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <pthread.h>
#include <time.h>
void *text(void *arg);
long code[] = {4,6,3,1,5,0,2}; //Order in which to start threads
int num = 0;
pthread_mutex_t lock; //Mutex variable
int main()
{
int i;
pthread_t tid[7];
//Check if mutex worked
if (pthread_mutex_init(&lock, NULL) != 0){
printf("Mutex init failed\n");
return 1;
}
//Initialize random number generator
time_t seconds;
time(&seconds);
srand((unsigned int) seconds);
//Create our threads
for (i=0; i<7; i++)
pthread_create(&tid[i], NULL, text, (void*)code[i]);
//Wait for threads to finish
for (i=0; i<7; i++){
if(pthread_join(tid[i], NULL)){
printf("A thread failed to join\n");
}
}
//Destroy mutex
pthread_mutex_destroy(&lock);
//Exit main
return 0;
}
void *text (void *arg)
{
//pthread_mutex_lock(&lock); //lock
long n = (long) arg;
int rand_sec = rand() % (3 - 1 + 1) + 1; //Random num seconds to sleep
while (num != n) {} //Busy wait used to wait for our turn
num++; //Let next thread go
sleep(rand_sec); //Sleep for random amount of time
pthread_mutex_lock(&lock); //lock
printf("This is thread %d.\n", n);
pthread_mutex_unlock(&lock); //unlock
//Exit thread
pthread_exit(0);
}
So here I am trying to make threads 0-6 print IN ORDER but right now they are still scrambled. The commented out mutex lock is where I originally had it, but then moved it down to the line above the print statement but I'm having similar results. I am not sure where the error in my mutex's are, could someone give a hint or point me in the right direction? I really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!
You cannot make threads to run in order with only a mutex because they go in execution in an unpredictable order.
In my approach I use a condition variable and a shared integer variable to create a queueing system. Each thread takes a number and when the current_n number is equal to the one of the actual thread, it enters the critical section and prints its number.
#include <pthread.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#define N_THREAD 7
int current_n = 0;
pthread_mutex_t mutex = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;
pthread_cond_t number = PTHREAD_COND_INITIALIZER;
void *text (void *arg) {
int i = (int)arg;
pthread_mutex_lock(&mutex);
while ( i > current_n ) {
pthread_cond_wait(&number, &mutex);
}
//i = current_n at this point
/*I use stderr because is not buffered and the output will be printed immediately.
Alternatively you can use printf and then fflush(stdout).
*/
fprintf(stderr, "I'm thread n=%d\n", i);
current_n ++;
pthread_cond_broadcast(&number);
pthread_mutex_unlock(&mutex);
return (void*)0;
}
int main() {
pthread_t tid[N_THREAD];
int i = 0;
for(i = 0; i < N_THREAD; i++) {
pthread_create(&tid[i], NULL, text, (void *)i);
}
for(i = 0; i < N_THREAD; i++) {
if(pthread_join(tid[i], NULL)) {
fprintf(stderr, "A thread failed to join\n");
}
}
return 0;
}
The output is:
I'm thread n=0
I'm thread n=1
I'm thread n=2
I'm thread n=3
I'm thread n=4
I'm thread n=5
I'm thread n=6
Compile with
gcc -Wall -Wextra -O2 test.c -o test -lpthread
Don't worry about the warnings.

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