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mktimer(3) Library Functions Manual mktimer(3) NAME mktimer - Allocates a per-process timer LIBRARY Standard C Library (libc.a) SYNOPSIS #include <sys/timers.h> timer_t mktimer( int clock_type, int notify_type, void *reserved) ; PARAMETERS Specifies the system-wide clock to be used as a per-process time base for the new timer. Specifies the mechanism by which a process is to be notified when the per-process timer times out. Not used. DESCRIPTION The mktimer() function is used to allocate a per-process timer using a specified system-wide clock as its timebase. The mktimer() function returns a unique timer ID of type timer_t, which is used to identify the timer in per-process timer requests. Each implementation of per-process timers defines a set of clocks that can be used as a time base for per-process timers, and one or more mechanisms for notifying the process that a per-process timer has ex- pired. The DIGITAL UNIX operating system allows each process to allo- cate one per-process timer whose clock_type parameter is specified by the TIMEOFDAY symbolic constant, which is defined in the timers.h in- clude file, using the notification mechanism whose notify_type parame- ter is specified by the DELIVERY_SIGNALS symbolic constant. When the notify_type parameter is specified as DELIVERY_SIGNALS, the system sends a SIGALRM signal to the process whenever the timer ex- pires. NOTES Per-process timers are not inherited by a child process across fork() or exec() functions. The reserved parameter is not currently used, but is specified for fu- ture support of other delivery mechanisms. The mktimer() function is part of the POSIX 1003.4 real time exten- sions, which is not an approved standard. As such, it is liable to change. Trial use RETURN VALUES Upon successful completion, the mktimer() function returns a timer_t value, which may be passed to a per-process timer call. Otherwise, mk- timer() returns a value of (timer_t)-1 and sets errno to indicate the error. ERRORS If the mktimer() function fails, errno may be set to one of the follow- ing values: The calling process has already allocated all available timers. The clock_type or notify_type parameter is invalid. RELATED INFORMATION Functions: exec(2), fork(2), getclock(3), gettimer(3), reltimer(3), rm- timer(3), setclock(3) delim off mktimer(3)