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Networking Services (XNS) Issue 5
Copyright © 1997 The Open Group

NAME

t_snd - send data or expedited data over a connection

SYNOPSIS

#include <xti.h>

int t_snd(
    int fd,
    void *buf,
    unsigned int nbytes,
    int flags)

DESCRIPTION


Parameters Before call After call
fd x /
buf x (x) =
nbytes x /
flags x /


This function is used to send either normal or expedited data. The argument fd identifies the local transport endpoint over which data should be sent, buf points to the user data, nbytes specifies the number of bytes of user data to be sent, and flags specifies any optional flags described below:

T_EXPEDITED
If set in flags, the data will be sent as expedited data and will be subject to the interpretations of the transport provider.

T_MORE
If set in flags, this indicates to the transport provider that the transport service data unit (TSDU) (or expedited transport service data unit - ETSDU) is being sent through multiple t_snd() calls. Each t_snd() with the T_MORE flag set indicates that another t_snd() will follow with more data for the current TSDU (or ETSDU).

The end of the TSDU (or ETSDU) is identified by a t_snd() call with the T_MORE flag not set. Use of T_MORE enables a user to break up large logical data units without losing the boundaries of those units at the other end of the connection. The flag implies nothing about how the data is packaged for transfer below the transport interface. If the transport provider does not support the concept of a TSDU as indicated in the info argument on return from t_open() or t_getinfo(), the T_MORE flag is not meaningful and will be ignored if set.

The sending of a zero-length fragment of a TSDU or ETSDU is only permitted where this is used to indicate the end of a TSDU or ETSDU; that is, when the T_MORE flag is not set. Some transport providers also forbid zero-length TSDUs and ETSDUs. See ISO Transport Protocol Information for a fuller explanation.

T_PUSH
If set in flags, requests that the provider transmit all data that it has accumulated but not sent. The request is a local action on the provider and does not affect any similarly named protocol flag (for example, the TCP PUSH flag). This effect of setting this flag is protocol-dependent, and it may be ignored entirely by transport providers which do not support the use of this feature.

Note:
The communications provider is free to collect data in a send buffer until it accumulates a sufficient amount for transmission.

By default, t_snd() operates in synchronous mode and may wait if flow control restrictions prevent the data from being accepted by the local transport provider at the time the call is made. However, if O_NONBLOCK is set (via t_open() or fcntl()), t_snd() will execute in asynchronous mode, and will fail immediately if there are flow control restrictions. The process can arrange to be informed when the flow control restrictions are cleared via either t_look() or the EM interface.

On successful completion, t_snd() returns the number of bytes (octets) accepted by the communications provider. Normally this will equal the number of octets specified in nbytes. However, if O_NONBLOCK is set or the function is interrupted by a signal, it is possible that only part of the data has actually been accepted by the communications provider. In this case, t_snd() returns a value that is less than the value of nbytes. If t_snd() is interrupted by a signal before it could transfer data to the communications provider, it returns -1 with t_errno set to [TSYSERR] and errno set to [EINTR].

If nbytes is zero and sending of zero bytes is not supported by the underlying communications service, t_snd() returns -1 with t_errno set to [TBADDATA].

The size of each TSDU or ETSDU must not exceed the limits of the transport provider as specified by the current values in the TSDU or ETSDU fields in the info argument returned by t_getinfo().

The error [TLOOK] is returned for asynchronous events. It is required only for an incoming disconnect event but may be returned for other events.

VALID STATES

T_DATAXFER, T_INREL

ERRORS

On failure, t_errno is set to one of the following:

[TBADDATA]
Illegal amount of data:

  • A single send was attempted specifying a TSDU (ETSDU) or fragment TSDU (ETSDU) greater than that specified by the current values of the TSDU or ETSDU fields in the info argument.

  • A send of a zero byte TSDU (ETSDU) or zero byte fragment of a TSDU (ETSDU) is not supported by the provider (see ISO Transport Protocol Information .

  • Multiple sends were attempted resulting in a TSDU (ETSDU) larger than that specified by the current value of the TSDU or ETSDU fields in the info argument - the ability of an XTI implementation to detect such an error case is implementation-dependent (see CAVEATS, below).

[TBADF]
The specified file descriptor does not refer to a transport endpoint.

[TBADFLAG]
An invalid flag was specified.

[TFLOW]
O_NONBLOCK was set, but the flow control mechanism prevented the transport provider from accepting any data at this time.

[TLOOK]
An asynchronous event has occurred on this transport endpoint.

[TNOTSUPPORT]
This function is not supported by the underlying transport provider.

[TOUTSTATE]
The communications endpoint referenced by fd is not in one of the states in which a call to this function is valid.

[TPROTO]
This error indicates that a communication problem has been detected between XTI and the transport provider for which there is no other suitable XTI error (t_errno).

[TSYSERR]
A system error has occurred during execution of this function.

RETURN VALUE

On successful completion, t_snd() returns the number of bytes accepted by the transport provider. Otherwise, -1 is returned on failure and t_errno is set to indicate the error.

Note:
If the number of bytes accepted by the communications provider is less than the number of bytes requested, this may either indicate that O_NONBLOCK is set and the communications provider is blocked due to flow control, or that O_NONBLOCK is clear and the function was interrupted by a signal.

SEE ALSO

t_getinfo(), t_open(), t_rcv().

CAVEATS

It is important to remember that the transport provider treats all users of a transport endpoint as a single user. Therefore if several processes issue concurrent t_snd() calls then the different data may be intermixed.

Multiple sends which exceed the maximum TSDU or ETSDU size may not be discovered by XTI. In this case an implementation-dependent error will result (generated by the transport provider) perhaps on a subsequent XTI call. This error may take the form of a connection abort, a [TSYSERR], a [TBADDATA] or a [TPROTO] error.

If multiple sends which exceed the maximum TSDU or ETSDU size are detected by XTI, t_snd() fails with [TBADDATA].

CHANGE HISTORY

Issue 4

The SYNOPSIS section is placed in the form of a standard C function prototype.

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