getutent and Linux timer issues - c

I have a problem running the below code , which invokes getutent() to count the total number of users currently logged in to the system. The timer will be invoked every 1sec and will set the boolean named "isSigAlrmOccured" to true and exit.The main function checks whether the timer signal is delivered by checking this boolen and monitor the number of loggedin users. Unfortunately, the timer signal is delivered to the main program only two times correctly and I don't get any further signals after that. The pause function call doesn't get interrupted after the first two signals.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <signal.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <utmp.h>
#include <errno.h>
static int isSigAlrmOccured;
void alarm_handler (int signo)
{
static int i=1;
printf("\n Signal Occurred %d times\n",i++);
isSigAlrmOccured = 1;
}
int main (int argc, char *argv[]) {
struct itimerval delay;
struct utmp *utmpstruct;
int numuser;
int ret;
signal (SIGALRM, alarm_handler);
delay.it_value.tv_sec = 1;
delay.it_value.tv_usec = 0;
delay.it_interval.tv_sec = 1;
delay.it_interval.tv_usec = 0;
ret = setitimer (ITIMER_REAL, &delay, NULL);
if (ret) {
perror ("setitimer");
return 0;
}
for (;;) {
pause ( );
/* count the number of users */
if ( (errno == EINTR) && (isSigAlrmOccured) ) {
isSigAlrmOccured = 0;
setutent();
while ((utmpstruct = getutent())) {
if ((utmpstruct->ut_type == USER_PROCESS) &&
(utmpstruct->ut_name[0] != '\0'))
numuser++;
}
endutent();
}
}
return 0;
}
Output:
Signal Occurred 1 times
Signal Occurred 2 times

The implementation of *utent() is using alarm() and is reseting your alarm.
You'll have to do something else.
strace ttest ( some lines removed for brevity )
[...]
pause()
--- SIGALRM (Alarm clock) # 0 (0) ---
write(1, " Signal Occurred 1 times\n", 25 Signal Occurred 1 times) = 25
open("/var/run/utmp", O_RDONLY|O_CLOEXEC) = 3
alarm(0) = 5
rt_sigaction(SIGALRM, {0x7f52580a91c0, [], SA_RESTORER, 0x7f5257fd46e0}, {0x40075c, [ALRM], SA_RESTORER|SA_RESTART, 0x7f5257fd46e0}, 8) = 0
alarm(1) = 0
Example code which only sets the alarm during the sleep period.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <signal.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <utmp.h>
#include <errno.h>
static int isSigAlrmOccured;
void alarm_handler (int signo)
{
static int i=1;
printf("\n Signal Occurred %d times\n",i++);
isSigAlrmOccured = 1;
}
int main (int argc, char *argv[]) {
struct itimerval delay;
struct utmp *utmpstruct;
int numuser;
int ret;
for (;;) {
signal (SIGALRM, alarm_handler);
alarm(1); /* wake me later */
pause ( );
/* count the number of users */
if ( (errno == EINTR) && (isSigAlrmOccured) ) {
signal (SIGALRM, SIG_DFL);
isSigAlrmOccured = 0;
numuser = 0;
setutent();
while ((utmpstruct = getutent())) {
if ((utmpstruct->ut_type == USER_PROCESS) &&
(utmpstruct->ut_name[0] != '\0'))
numuser++;
}
endutent();
printf("found %d users\n", numuser);
}
}
return 0;
}

This page lists the set of functions that are "safe" to call from a signal handler. If you call some other function, the behavior is undefined. I notice that setutent() doesn't seem to be on the lest, for starters ...

Related

Program is not generating random number and I am not sure why

#include<pthread.h>
#include<stdio.h>
#include<stdint.h>
#include<stdlib.h>
#include<time.h>
#include<unistd.h>
#define ERROR_CREATE 1
#define ERROR_JOIN 2
// create the function to be executed as a thread
void *thread(void *ptr)
{
uintptr_t type = (uintptr_t) ptr; // thread number
srand(time(NULL) + getpid());
int wait = rand() % 10; // randomizes numbers from 0 to 10
sleep(wait); // waits in time intervals of seconds
printf("Thread - %ld waiting for %d seconds\n",type, wait);
return ptr; // returns the thread number
}
int main(int argc, char **argv) {
if (argc != 2) {
fprintf(stderr, "Error with command line arguments");
}
int num_threads = atoi(argv[1]);
pthread_t threads[num_threads]; // array of thread types
for (long i = 1; i <= num_threads; i++) {
if (pthread_create(&threads[i], NULL, thread, (void *)i) != 0)
// if there's an error creating thread
{
fprintf(stderr,"Error: could not create thread");
return ERROR_CREATE;
}
}
// terminate each thread assigned
for (int i = 1; i <= num_threads; i++) {
if (pthread_join(threads[i], NULL) != 0)
// if there's an error ending each thread
{
fprintf(stderr, "Error: could not terminate thread");
return ERROR_JOIN;
}
}
return 0;
}
Seeding the rand function, I am still getting the same number outputted. I understand the hardware is fast and therefore is getting the same answer as the clock speed is faster than seeding the rand function. Does anyone know another way of getting more variety from the rand function?
Return if argv[1] is not populated otherwise it segfaults.
srand() resets the sequence. As you call it multiple times with the same value this is not what you want. Moved it main().
The array threads is accessed out of bounds in the two loops.
#include <pthread.h>
#include <stdint.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <time.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#define ERROR_CREATE 1
#define ERROR_JOIN 2
// create the function to be executed as a thread
void *thread(void *ptr) {
uintptr_t type = (uintptr_t) ptr; // thread number
int wait = rand() % 10; // randomizes numbers from 0 to 10
sleep(wait); // waits in time intervals of seconds
printf("Thread - %ld waiting for %d seconds\n",type, wait);
return ptr; // returns the thread number
}
int main(int argc, char **argv) {
if (argc != 2) {
fprintf(stderr, "Error with command line arguments\n");
return 1;
}
srand(time(NULL));
int num_threads = atoi(argv[1]);
pthread_t threads[num_threads]; // array of thread types
for (long i = 0; i < num_threads; i++) {
if (pthread_create(&threads[i], NULL, thread, (void *)i) != 0)
// if there's an error creating thread
{
fprintf(stderr,"Error: could not create thread");
return ERROR_CREATE;
}
}
// terminate each thread assigned
for (int i = 0; i < num_threads; i++) {
if (pthread_join(threads[i], NULL) != 0)
// if there's an error ending each thread
{
fprintf(stderr, "Error: could not terminate thread");
return ERROR_JOIN;
}
}
}
and here is a couple of sample runs:
$ ./a.out 2
Thread - 1 waiting for 3 seconds
Thread - 2 waiting for 7 seconds
$ ./a.out 2
Thread - 1 waiting for 3 seconds
Thread - 2 waiting for 6 seconds

determine what secret handshake causes them to print the given lines ONE TIME ONLY

So I need to find what causes this program to print out "I'm unlocked!" But when I run this algorithm, it prints out nothing.
I tried removing lines of code or adding sleep but no matter what I do it just prints out blank.
I am expected to print "I'm unlocked!"
#include <signal.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdio.h>
volatile int locked, t, c;
static void handler(int signo);
int main(int argc, char * argv[])
{
locked = 1;
t = c = 0;
char * knock = getenv("KNOCK");
if(knock == NULL || strcmp(knock, "KNOCK"))
{
return 1;
}
if(signal(SIGUSR1, handler) == SIG_ERR ||
signal(SIGUSR2, handler) == SIG_ERR ||
signal(SIGALRM, handler) == SIG_ERR)
{
fprintf(stderr, "%s: cannot register signal handlers\n", argv[0]);
return 2;
}
while(locked)
{
pause();
}
puts("I'm unlocked!");
return 0;
}
static void handler(int signo)
{
switch(signo)
{
case SIGUSR1:
if(c == 2)
{
t = alarm(3);
}
break;
case SIGUSR2:
c++;
if(t == 1)
{
locked = 0;
}
break;
case SIGALRM:
t = 0;
break;
}
}
The pause() function suspends the calling thread and returns when a signal that has a registered handler is invoked.
The loop then terminates when pause() returns and the locked == 0.
So the following signal sequence and timing will unlock:
SIGUSR2 // c = 1
SIGUSR2 // c = 2
SIGUSR1 // t = 0 (no scheduled alarm)
Delay two seconds
SIGUSR1 // t = 1 (alarm seconds remaining)
SIGUSR2 // locked = 0 (because t == 1)
The signals can be issued from a separate thread or process using the kill() function or from a shell script using the kill command.

sending synchronized signal among 3 processes

I'm working on signal project get a file with 0, increase to the input (ex ./count 300 sample.txt) by using sync signals p1->p2->p3->p1, after they increase number by 1, the fall in to sleep and call next one.
but I got stuck with two problems
how to and where to implement increasing number process, in signal handling or main( 0 -> 1 -> 2 ... input )
don't know how to implement with sigwait() or sigprocmask() what's the difference? . can i choose either one to guarantee that they are synchronized? or should I just use sleep?
belows are code that I've been working on so far.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <signal.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <string.h>
void sig_usr1(int signo)
{
char a;
sigset_t sigset, oldset;
sigemptyset (&oldset);
sigemptyset (&sigset);
sigaddset(&sigset, SIGUSR1);
sigprocmask(SIG_BLOCK, &sigset, &oldset);
fd =open("./sample.txt",O_RDWR);
pread (fd, a, sizeof(a));
if (argv[0]>a)
{a ++;
truncate ("./sample.txt", 0);
write(fd, a, sizeof(a));
}
}
int main (int argc, char** argv)
{
int fd;
int num=0;
struct sigaction usrsig ;
if(!(argv[0]>0))
printf("insert positive integer");
fd = open("./sample.txt",O_RDWR|O_CREAT|O_TRUNC);
write(fd, num ,sizeof(num);
pid_t child[3];
usrsig.sa_handler =sig_usr; // Parent
sigemptyset(&usrsig.sa_mask);
usrsig1.sa_flags = 0;
sigaction(SIGUSR1,&usrsig, 0);
for ( i=0; i<3; i++)
{
child[i] = fork();
if(child[i] == 0)
break;
}
pid_t prev;
if(i ==0) prev = getppid();
else prev = child[i-1];
kill(pid_prev, SIGUSR1)
}

Threads are created, then all exit before critical region

I need to write a program for class that creates 8 threads. 4 producer, and 4 consumer. The producers need to loop, and randomly send SIGUSR1 or SIGUSR2 to all consumer threads. Only 2 should register if they have received SIGUSR1 and the other 2 register SIGUSR2.
When I try to run it all threads are created, "prod ready" is printed by all 4 producer threads,"waiting 1" is printed by both threads, but "waiting 2" is printed 3 times then all threads exit. At the end of debugging it says that the process exits normally.
I need to use semaphores to control the critical regions. Any help would be great.
#include <pthread.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <semaphore.h>
#include <signal.h>
#define NP 4
#define NC1 2
#define NC2 2
#define CNT 10
void handler1(int signum);
void handler2(int signum);
typedef struct {
int sent;
int received;
int buf[1];
int SIG1;
int SIG2;
sem_t con;
sem_t prod;
} sbuf_t;
sbuf_t buff;
void *producer() {
printf("prod ready \n");
int s;
while(1){
sem_wait(&buff.prod);
s=rand()%2;
if(s==1){
buff.sent++;
kill(0,SIGUSR1);
}
else if(s==2){
buff.sent++;
kill(0,SIGUSR2);
}sem_post(&buff.prod);
}
}
void *consumer1() {
signal(SIGUSR1, handler1);
printf("waiting 1\n");
while(1){
}
}
void *consumer2() {
signal(SIGUSR2, handler2);
printf("waiting 2\n");
while(1){
}
}
void handler1(int signum){
if(signum==SIGUSR1){
sem_wait(&buff.con);
printf("Caught 1\n");
buff.received++;
buff.SIG1++;
sem_post(&buff.con);
}
}
void handler2(int signum){
if(signum==SIGUSR2){
sem_wait(&buff.con);
printf("caught 2 \n");
buff.received++;
buff.SIG2++;
sem_post(&buff.con);
}
}
void main(){
pthread_t threads[9];
buff.SIG1=0;
buff.SIG2=0;
buff.sent=0;
buff.received=0;
int index;
sem_init(&buff.con, 0, 0);
sem_init(&buff.prod, 0, 0);
for (index = 0; index < NP; index++) {
pthread_create(&threads[index], NULL, producer,NULL);
}
for (index = 0;index < NC1;index++) {
pthread_create(&threads[index+4], NULL, consumer1,NULL);
}
for (index = 0;index < NC2;index++) {
pthread_create(&threads[index+6], NULL, consumer2,NULL);
}
}
In the main() function, the threads are being created,
then main() exits.
When main() exits, all the threads are also exited.
Suggest reading about such functions as: pthread_exit() and pthread_join()
Note: the following has an error in the handling of the signals and in the handling of the semaphores, but will demonstrate the use of pthread_join() and pthread_exit()
#include <pthread.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <semaphore.h>
#include <signal.h>
#define NP 4
#define NC1 2
#define NC2 2
#define CNT 10
#define MAX_THREADS (9)
void handler1(int signum);
void handler2(int signum);
struct sbuf_t
{
int sent;
int received;
int buf[1];
int SIG1;
int SIG2;
sem_t con1;
sem_t con2;
sem_t prod;
};
typedef struct sbuf_t myData;
myData buff;
void *producer( void *dummy )
{
(void)dummy;
printf("prod ready \n");
int s;
while(1)
{
sem_wait(&buff.prod);
s=rand()%2;
if( !s )
{
buff.sent++;
kill( 0, SIGUSR1 );
}
else // if( s )
{
buff.sent++;
kill( 0, SIGUSR2 );
}
//sem_post(&buff.prod);
}
pthread_exit( NULL );
} // end thread: producer
void *consumer1( void *dummy )
{
(void)dummy;
//signal(SIGUSR1, handler1);
printf("waiting 1\n");
while(1)
{
sem_wait( &buff.con1 );
// do something
//sem_post( &buff.prod );
}
pthread_exit( NULL );
} // end thread: consumer1
void *consumer2( void *dummy )
{
(void)dummy;
//signal(SIGUSR2, handler2);
printf("waiting 2\n");
while(1)
{
sem_wait( &buff.con2 );
// do something
//sem_post( &buff.prod );
}
pthread_exit( NULL );
} // end thread: consumer2
void handler(int signum)
{
sem_post(&buff.prod);
if(signum==SIGUSR1)
{
//sem_wait(&buff.con);
puts("Caught 1");
buff.received++;
buff.SIG1++;
sem_post(&buff.con1);
}
else if(signum==SIGUSR2)
{
//sem_wait(&buff.con);
puts("caught 2");
buff.received++;
buff.SIG2++;
sem_post(&buff.con2);
}
} // end signal handler: handler2
int main( void )
{
pthread_t threads[ MAX_THREADS ];
buff.SIG1=0;
buff.SIG2=0;
buff.sent=0;
buff.received=0;
int index;
sem_init(&buff.con1, 0, 0);
sem_init(&buff.con2, 0, 0);
sem_init(&buff.prod, 0, 0);
signal(SIGUSR2, handler);
signal(SIGUSR1, handler);
for (index = 0; index < NP; index++)
{
pthread_create(&threads[index], NULL, producer,NULL);
}
for (index = 0;index < NC1;index++)
{
pthread_create(&threads[index+4], NULL, consumer1,NULL);
}
for (index = 0;index < NC2;index++)
{
pthread_create(&threads[index+6], NULL, consumer2,NULL);
}
for( size_t x=0; x<MAX_THREADS; x++ )
{
pthread_join( threads[x], NULL );
}
} // end function: main
HOWEVER, the methods to handle signals to threads does not use kill() as that is for processes.
rather the code should use functions similar to::
int pthread_cond_wait(pthread_cond_t *restrict cond, pthread_mutex_t *restrict mutex);
int pthread_cond_signal(pthread_cond_t *cond)
The signaled thread should block on a pthread_cond_wait() call until another thread sends a signal using pthread_cond_signal(), with the same condition variable.
Considering the analogy with signals delivered to processes, this is a bit different because the signaled thread has already suspended its execution waiting for a signal, unlike a process that simply gets interrupted and goes on.
For you example, you are creating your producers before your consumers. Also in your producer, you are using a random number generator to determine if you issue USR1 or USR2. Your description gave the impression you wanted two of each (versus some random mix totaling 4) which is what I see the code doing for you.

pthread_kill() gives segmentation fault when called from second thread

I am trying to manually interrupt the main thread of a program when it is blocked on a read() system call. I do this in a second thread with a call to pthread_kill() however a segmentation fault occurs. However if I place the call to read() in the scond thread, i.e. NOT the main thread and call pthread_kill() from the main thread then all works as expected.
For example, the following code results in a segmentation fault, where I call pthread_kill() in the second thread, approximatelt 2 seconds after it is started. It uses the pthread_t of the main thread obtained by a call (in the main thread) to pthread_self():
Example 1
#include <sys/types.h>
#include <sys/stat.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
#include <termios.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <sys/ioctl.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <errno.h>
#include <syslog.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <signal.h>
static int fd = 0;
unsigned char buf[255];
static pthread_t s;
void sigHandler(int sig){
printf("Signal handler called.\n");
}
void * closeFD(void *arg){
printf("Second thread started.\n");
sleep(2);
int r = pthread_kill(s, SIGUSR1);
}
int main(char *argv[], int argc){
struct termios newtio;
pthread_t t1;
unsigned char buf[255];
void *res;
struct sigaction int_handler = {.sa_handler=sigHandler};
sigaction(SIGUSR1,&int_handler,0);
s = pthread_self();
printf("Process id is: %d.\n", getpid());
fd = open("/dev/ttyS0", O_RDONLY | O_NOCTTY);
if (fd != -1){
bzero(&newtio, sizeof(newtio));
newtio.c_cflag = B2400 | CS7 | CLOCAL | CREAD ;
newtio.c_iflag = ICRNL;
newtio.c_oflag = 0;
newtio.c_lflag = ~ICANON;
newtio.c_cc[VMIN] = 14;
tcsetattr(fd,TCSANOW,&newtio);
pthread_create(&t1, NULL, closeFD, NULL);
printf("Reading ..\n");
read(fd,buf,255);
close(fd);
}
return 0;
}
The following code is the same except I place the call to read() in the second thread (in closeFD()) and works as expected. The second thread unblocks and terminates while the main thread waits for it to exit then exits itself.
Example 2:
#include <sys/types.h>
#include <sys/stat.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
#include <termios.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <sys/ioctl.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <errno.h>
#include <syslog.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <signal.h>
static int fd = 0;
unsigned char buf[255];
static pthread_t s;
void sigHandler(int sig){
printf("Signal handler called.\n");
}
void * closeFD(void *arg){
printf("Second thread started.\n");
read(fd,buf,255);
printf("Read interrupted.\n");
}
int main(char *argv[], int argc){
struct termios newtio;
pthread_t t1;
unsigned char buf[255];
void *res;
struct sigaction int_handler = {.sa_handler=sigHandler};
sigaction(SIGUSR1,&int_handler,0);
s = pthread_self();
printf("Process id is: %d.\n", getpid());
fd = open("/dev/ttyS0", O_RDONLY | O_NOCTTY);
if (fd != -1){
bzero(&newtio, sizeof(newtio));
newtio.c_cflag = B2400 | CS7 | CLOCAL | CREAD ;
newtio.c_iflag = ICRNL;
newtio.c_oflag = 0;
newtio.c_lflag = ~ICANON;
newtio.c_cc[VMIN] = 14;
tcsetattr(fd,TCSANOW,&newtio);
pthread_create(&t1, NULL, closeFD, NULL);
sleep(2);
int r = pthread_kill(t1, SIGUSR1);
pthread_join(t1, &res);
close(fd);
}
return 0;
}
So far I have not been able to find a specific reference stating that terminating the main thread from a second (within the same process) is an illegal operation, so is there something I am doing wrong?
UPDATE #1
Thanks for all those that have replied, however I should make a few points clear:
I am aware that using printf in the signal handler is unsafe however this is an example and it's not the cause of the segmentation fault, though it is a valid point. Taking the printf() out of the signal handler still results in a segmentation fault. Example 2 works with printf() either in or out of the signal handler.
I know sending a SIGUSR will not terminate the program. However by using the pthread_kill(pthread_t thread, int signal) it WILL send a signal to the thread thread and it will unblock (if indeed it is blocked). This is the action I desire, this is what actually happens in Example 2 and this is what I understand should happen in either example, but does not in example 1.
When describing example 1, I used the term 'method' when I meant 'thread', where I mention the call to pthread_kill().
Further, quoting from 'Programming with POSIX Threads', David R. Butenhof, section 6.6.3 p217 'pthread_kill':
Within a process, one thread can send a signal to a specific thread
(including itself) by calling pthread_kill.
With that said, the following example ALSO gives a segmentation fault:
Example 3
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <signal.h>
static pthread_t s;
int value = 0;
void sigHandler(int sig){
value = 1;
}
int main(char *argv[], int argc){
struct sigaction int_handler = {.sa_handler=sigHandler};
sigaction(SIGUSR1,&int_handler,0);
s = pthread_self();
printf("The value of 'value' is %d.\n", value);
printf("Process id is: %d.\n", getpid());
int r = pthread_kill(s, SIGUSR1);
printf("The value of 'value' is %d.\n", value);
return 0;
}
This also fails if instead of a call to sigaction() is replaced by the (non-portable) call to signal(). With the third example in mind, which is very simple, I am not able to find any documentation that expressly states it is an illegal action. In fact the quoted reference indicates it's allowable!
You forgot to #include <pthread.h>. That fixes your segfault for me in example #3 on a recent Linux system.
--- pthread_kill-self.c.orig 2015-01-06 14:08:54.949000690 -0600
+++ pthread_kill-self.c 2015-01-06 14:08:59.820998965 -0600
## -1,6 +1,6 ##
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
-#include <string.h>
+#include <pthread.h>
#include <signal.h>
and then...
$:- gcc -o pthread_kill-self pthread_kill-self.c -pthread
$:- ./pthread_kill-self
The value of 'value' is 0.
Process id is: 3152.
The value of 'value' is 1.
You're using printf(), which is not async-signal safe, and you're not initializing your struct sigaction properly (in particular, the signal mask is left undefined).
Third, sending a SIGUSR1 signal, with a handler installed, does not and should not terminate the main thread. You're just sending it a signal, that's all.
As Jens Gustedt mentioned in his comment to the original question, both of the programs have undefined behaviour. Therefore, I'm not going to try and guess exactly what part of the undefined behaviour causes the segmentation fault (in the first program).
Instead, I'll show you a working example.
For debugging/testing purposes, I like to start with async-signal safe output functions, based on write(2):
#define _POSIX_C_SOURCE 200809L
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <signal.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <termios.h>
#include <pthread.h>
#include <errno.h>
#include <time.h>
#define MYSIGNAL SIGUSR1
#define SECONDS 10
static int wrstr(const int descriptor, const char *p, const char *const q)
{
while (p < q) {
ssize_t n;
n = write(descriptor, p, (size_t)(q - p));
if (n > (ssize_t)0)
p += n;
else
if (n != (ssize_t)-1)
return EIO;
else
if (errno != EINTR && errno != EAGAIN && errno != EWOULDBLOCK)
return errno;
}
return 0;
}
static const char *ends(const char *s)
{
if (s)
while (*s != '\0')
s++;
return s;
}
static int wrout(const char *const p)
{
if (p != NULL && *p != '\0') {
int saved_errno, result;
saved_errno = errno;
result = wrstr(STDOUT_FILENO, p, ends(p));
errno = saved_errno;
return result;
} else
return 0;
}
static int wrouti(const int value)
{
char buffer[32];
char *p = buffer + sizeof buffer;
unsigned int u;
if (value < 0)
u = -(long)value;
else
u = value;
do {
*(--p) = '0' + (u % 10U);
u /= 10U;
} while (u > 0U);
if (value < 0)
*(--p) = '-';
return wrstr(STDOUT_FILENO, p, buffer + sizeof buffer);
}
static int wrerr(const char *const p)
{
if (p != NULL && *p != '\0') {
int saved_errno, result;
saved_errno = errno;
result = wrstr(STDERR_FILENO, p, ends(p));
errno = saved_errno;
return result;
} else
return 0;
}
The above functions are async-signal safe, and therefore okay to use in a signal handler. wrout() and wrerr() also retain errno unchanged, which is useful. Saving and restoring errno in a signal handler is usually omitted, by the way, although I do believe there are some odd corner cases it might matter. The wrouti() is just a crude decimal signed integer printer, also async-signal-safe, but it does not retain errno unchanged.
Next, let's define the signal handler itself, and an installer function for it. (I like to do it this way, to make the main() simpler.)
static volatile sig_atomic_t handled = 0;
static void handler(int signum)
{
wrerr("Signal received.\n");
handled = signum;
}
static int install_handler(const int signum)
{
struct sigaction act;
/* memset(&act, 0, sizeof act); */
sigemptyset(&act.sa_mask);
act.sa_handler = handler;
act.sa_flags = 0;
if (sigaction(signum, &act, NULL))
return errno;
return 0;
}
The commented-out memset is recommended, but not required for proper operation. The sigemptyset(), however, is required, to clear the set of blocked signals.
Next, let's look at the thread function. You shouldn't use sleep(), as that interacts with signals; use POSIX.1-2001 nanosleep() instead.
static void *worker(void *target)
{
struct timespec duration, left;
int retval;
wrout("Worker started. Sleeping ");
wrouti((int)SECONDS);
wrout(" seconds...\n");
duration.tv_sec = SECONDS;
duration.tv_nsec = 0;
left.tv_sec = 0;
left.tv_nsec = 0;
while (1) {
retval = nanosleep(&duration, &left);
if (retval == 0)
break;
if (left.tv_sec <= 0 ||
(left.tv_sec == 0 && left.tv_nsec <= 0))
break;
duration = left;
left.tv_sec = 0;
left.tv_nsec = 0;
}
wrout("Sleep complete.\n");
if (target) {
wrout("Sending signal...\n");
retval = pthread_kill(*(pthread_t *)target, MYSIGNAL);
if (retval == 0)
wrout("Signal sent successfully.\n");
else {
const char *const errmsg = strerror(retval);
wrout("Failed to send signal: ");
wrout(errmsg);
wrout(".\n");
}
}
wrout("Thread done.\n");
return NULL;
}
The pointer given to the thread function should point to the thread identifier (pthread_t) the signal is directed to.
Note that above, nanosleep() can be interrupted by a signal delivery, if the signal is delivered to or caught by this particular thread. If that occurs, nanosleep() tells us how much time was left to sleep. The loop above shows how to make sure you sleep at least the specified time, even if interrupted by signal delivery.
Finally, the main(). Instead of opening a specific device, I use standard input. To reproduce OP's program, redirect standard input from /dev/ttyUSB0, i.e. ./program < /dev/ttyUSB0, when executing it.
int main(void)
{
pthread_t main_thread, worker_thread;
pthread_attr_t attrs;
struct termios original, settings;
int result;
if (!isatty(STDIN_FILENO)) {
wrerr("Standard input is not a terminal.\n");
return EXIT_FAILURE;
}
if (tcgetattr(STDIN_FILENO, &original) != 0 ||
tcgetattr(STDIN_FILENO, &settings) != 0) {
const char *const errmsg = strerror(errno);
wrerr("Cannot get terminal settings: ");
wrerr(errmsg);
wrerr(".\n");
return EXIT_FAILURE;
}
settings.c_lflag = ~ICANON;
settings.c_cc[VMIN] = 14;
if (tcsetattr(STDIN_FILENO, TCSANOW, &settings) != 0) {
const char *const errmsg = strerror(errno);
tcsetattr(STDIN_FILENO, TCSAFLUSH, &original);
wrerr("Cannot set terminal settings: ");
wrerr(errmsg);
wrerr(".\n");
return EXIT_FAILURE;
}
wrout("Terminal is now in raw mode.\n");
if (install_handler(MYSIGNAL)) {
const char *const errmsg = strerror(errno);
wrerr("Cannot install signal handler: ");
wrerr(errmsg);
wrerr(".\n");
return EXIT_FAILURE;
}
main_thread = pthread_self();
pthread_attr_init(&attrs);
pthread_attr_setstacksize(&attrs, 65536);
result = pthread_create(&worker_thread, &attrs, worker, &main_thread);
if (result != 0) {
const char *const errmsg = strerror(errno);
tcsetattr(STDIN_FILENO, TCSAFLUSH, &original);
wrerr("Cannot create a worker thread: ");
wrerr(errmsg);
wrerr(".\n");
return EXIT_FAILURE;
}
pthread_attr_destroy(&attrs);
wrout("Waiting for input...\n");
while (1) {
char buffer[256];
ssize_t n;
if (handled) {
wrout("Because signal was received, no more input is read.\n");
break;
}
n = read(STDIN_FILENO, buffer, sizeof buffer);
if (n > (ssize_t)0) {
wrout("Read ");
wrouti((int)n);
wrout(" bytes.\n");
continue;
} else
if (n == (ssize_t)0) {
wrout("End of input.\n");
break;
} else
if (n != (ssize_t)-1) {
wrout("read() returned an invalid value.\n");
break;
} else {
result = errno;
wrout("read() == -1, errno == ");
wrouti(result);
wrout(": ");
wrout(strerror(result));
wrout(".\n");
break;
}
}
wrout("Reaping the worker thread..\n");
result = pthread_join(worker_thread, NULL);
if (result != 0) {
wrout("Failed to reap worker thread: ");
wrout(strerror(result));
wrout(".\n");
} else
wrout("Worker thread reaped successfully.\n");
tcsetattr(STDIN_FILENO, TCSAFLUSH, &original);
wrout("Terminal reverted back to original mode.\n");
return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}
Because it's much more fun to test using the terminal, the above tries hard to restore the terminal to its original state before returning.
Note that since the VMIN field in the termios structure is set to 14, the read() blocks until at least 14 bytes are available in the buffer. If a signal is delivered, a short count is returned if there is at least one byte in the buffer. Therefore, you cannot expect the read() to always return 14 bytes, and you cannot expect it to return -1 with errno == EINTR whenever a signal is delivered! Experimenting with this program is very useful, to clarify these in your mind.
I don't remember whether the USB serial drivers in Linux ever produce EPIPE or raise SIGPIPE, but that can definitely occur when using pipes. When using pipes, the most common reason is trying to read after read has already returned zero (end of input). Unless ignored or caught with a signal handler, the process dies much like in a segmentation fault, except that the cause is SIGPIPE signal instead of SIGSEGV. With terminal-like character devices, it depends on the driver, I seem to recall.
Finally, I wrote the above code under the weather (flu), so there might be bugs in tharrr. It should be POSIX.1 C99 code, and gcc -Wall -pedantic does not complain, but having a stuffed head, I'm not making any promises here. Fixes are more than welcome!
Questions? Comments?

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