.\" $OpenBSD: CMSG_DATA.3,v 1.2 2007/05/31 19:19:48 jmc Exp $ .\" Written by Jared Yanovich .\" Public domain, July 3, 2005 .Dd $Mdocdate: May 31 2007 $ .Dt CMSG_DATA 3 .Os .Sh NAME .Nm CMSG_DATA , .Nm CMSG_FIRSTHDR , .Nm CMSG_LEN , .Nm CMSG_NXTHDR , .Nm CMSG_SPACE .Nd socket control message routines .Sh SYNOPSIS .In sys/socket.h .Ft void * .Fn CMSG_DATA "struct cmsghdr *" .Ft struct cmsghdr * .Fn CMSG_FIRSTHDR "struct msghdr *" .Ft size_t .Fn CMSG_LEN "size_t" .Ft struct cmsghdr * .Fn CMSG_NXTHDR "struct msghdr *" "struct cmsghdr *" .Ft size_t .Fn CMSG_SPACE "size_t" .Sh DESCRIPTION The control message API is used to construct ancillary data objects for use in control messages sent and received across sockets. .Pp Control messages are passed around by the .Xr recvmsg 2 and .Xr sendmsg 2 system calls. The .Vt cmsghdr structure, described in .Xr recvmsg 2 , is used to specify a chain of control messages. .Pp These routines should be used instead of directly accessing the control message header members and data buffers as they ensure that necessary alignment constraints are met. .Pp The following routines are provided: .Bl -tag -width Ds .It Fn CMSG_DATA cmsg This routine accesses the data portion of the control message header .Fa cmsg . It ensures proper alignment constraints on the beginning of ancillary data are met. .It Fn CMSG_FIRSTHDR mhdr This routine accesses the first control message attached to the message .Fa msg . If no control messages are attached to the message, this routine returns .Dv NULL . .It Fn CMSG_LEN len This routine determines the size in bytes of a control message, which includes the control message header. .Fa len specifies the length of the data held by the control message. This routine accounts for any alignment constraints on the beginning of ancillary data. .It Fn CMSG_NXTHDR mhdr cmsg This routine returns the location of the control message following .Fa cmsg in the message .Fa mhdr . If .Fa cmsg is the last control message in the chain, this routine returns .Dv NULL . .It Fn CMSG_SPACE len This routine determines the size in bytes needed to hold a control message and its contents of length .Fa len , which includes the control message header. This routine accounts for any alignment constraints on the beginning of ancillary data as well as any needed to pad the next control message. .El .Sh EXAMPLES The following example constructs a control message containing a file descriptor and passes it over a socket: .Bd -literal -offset indent struct msghdr msg; struct cmsghdr *cmsg; unsigned char buf[CMSG_SPACE(sizeof(int))]; memset(&msg, 0, sizeof(msg)); msg.msg_control = buf; msg.msg_controllen = CMSG_LEN(sizeof(int)); cmsg = CMSG_FIRSTHDR(&msg); cmsg->cmsg_len = CMSG_LEN(sizeof(int)); cmsg->cmsg_level = SOL_SOCKET; cmsg->cmsg_type = SCM_RIGHTS; *(int *)CMSG_DATA(cmsg) = fd; if (sendmsg(s, &msg, 0) == -1) err(1, "sendmsg"); .Ed .Pp And an example that receives and decomposes the control message: .Bd -literal -offset indent struct msghdr msg; struct cmsghdr *cmsg; unsigned char buf[CMSG_SPACE(sizeof(int))]; memset(&msg, 0, sizeof(msg)); msg.msg_control = buf; msg.msg_controllen = sizeof(buf); if (recvmsg(s, &msg, 0) == -1) err(1, "recvmsg"); if ((msg.msg_flags & MSG_TRUNC) || (msg.msg_flags & MSG_CTRUNC)) errx(1, "control message truncated"); for (cmsg = CMSG_FIRSTHDR(&msg); cmsg != NULL; cmsg = CMSG_NXTHDR(&msg, cmsg)) { if (cmsg->cmsg_len == CMSG_LEN(sizeof(int)) && cmsg->cmsg_level == SOL_SOCKET && cmsg->cmsg_type == SCM_RIGHTS) { fd = *(int *)CMSG_DATA(cmsg); /* Do something with the descriptor. */ } } .Ed .Sh SEE ALSO .Xr recvmsg 2 , .Xr sendmsg 2 , .Xr socket 2 .Sh HISTORY The control message API first appeared in .Bx 4.2 .