Creates an endpoint for communication by returning a special kind of file descriptor called a socket descriptor, which is associated with a TCP/IP Services socket device channel. The $QIO equivalent is the IO$_SETMODE function. Format #include <types.h> #include <socket.h> int socket ( int af, int type, int protocol );
1 – Arguments
af The address family used in later references to the socket. Addresses specified in subsequent operations using the socket are interpreted according to this family. Use one of the following: o AF_INET for the IPv4 address family o AF_INET6 for the IPv6 address family o TCPIP$C_AUXS For a network application server with the LISTEN flag enabled, you specify the TCPIP$C_AUXS address family to obtain the connected device socket created by the auxiliary server in response to incoming network traffic. type The socket types are: o SOCK_STREAM - Provides sequenced, reliable, two-way, connection-based byte streams with an available out-of-band data transmission mechanism. o SOCK_DGRAM - Provides datagram transmissions. A datagram is a connectionless, unreliable data transmission mechanism. o SOCK_RAW - Provides access to internal network interfaces. Available only to users with the SYSPRV privilege. protocol The protocol to be used with the socket. Normally, only a single protocol exists to support a particular socket type using a given address format. However, if many protocols exist, a particular protocol must be specified with this argument. Use the protocol number that is specific to the address family.
2 – Description
This function provides the primary mechanism for creating sockets. The type and protocol of the socket affect the way the socket behaves and how it can be used. The operation of sockets is controlled by socket-level options, which are defined in the SOCKET.H header file and described in the setsockopt() function section of this chapter. Use the setsockopt() and getsockopt() functions to set and get options. Options take an integer argument that should be nonzero if the option is to be enabled or zero if it is to be disabled. SO_LINGER uses a linger structure argument (see linger Structure). Related Functions See also accept(), bind(), connect(), getsockname(), getsockopt(), socketpair(), listen(), read(), recv(), recvfrom(), recvmsg(), select(), send(), sendmsg(), sendto(), shutdown(), and write().
3 – Return Values
x A file descriptor that refers to the socket descriptor. -1 Error; errno is set to indicate the error.
4 – Errors
EACCES The process does not have sufficient privileges. EAFNOSUPPORT The specified address family is not supported in this version of the system. EMFILE The per-process descriptor table is full. ENETDOWN TCP/IP Services was not started. ENFILE No more file descriptors are available for the system. ENOBUFS The system has insufficient resources to complete the call. ENOMEM The system was unable to allocate kernel memory to increase the process descriptor table. EPERM The process is attempting to open a raw socket and does not have SYSTEM privilege. EPROTONOSUPPORT The socket in the specified address family is not supported. EPROTOTYPE The socket type is not supported by the protocol. ESOCKTNOSUPPORT The specified socket type is not supported in this address family.