> From: Thomas Page <ThomasP@cat.co.za>
> Date: 1999-07-06 08:07:00 -0700
> To: 'NetBSD kernel group' <tech-kern@netbsd.org>,'NetBSD Network group' 
> <tech-net@netbsd.org>
> Subject: Erroneous TCPIP filedescriptors
> Delivered-to: tech-net@netbsd.org
> X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.1960.3)
>
> I am working with somthing that uses TCPIP to talk to the outside  
world, and UDP to
> send messages between several different processes. A 'select'  
forms the heart
> of the application, as it waits for the UDP messages, forwards  
them to a message
> handler, and for the TCPIP, which waits for a suitable partner to  
connect to
> (works OK), then to indicate waiting data. The connection 'accept'  
spawns a new
> fd, which is then listened to in the 'select'.
>
> The problem I have is that: after a connection is made, then  
control reverts back
> to the main program, and ultimately sits waiting for action in the  
'select', as it
> enters the select, the fd for the TCP causes a 'Bad File  
Descriptor' from
> strerror(errno).
>
> 1) Is it OK to use select for more than just making connections?
> 2) Is there some other lurking error, I've had 'TCP persistance'  
mentioned,
> bearing in mind that the problem is erratic.
>
> Thomas Page
> thomasp@cat.co.za   (tompage@hotmail.com) +27 31 560 6556
>
> "I can not be intimidated, bought, or blackmailed. I can only be  
inspired."
>
> Unknown 20th century poet
>
>

This could be a bug in your code.  On the face of it, nothing else  
strikes me.  If you have a debugger handy, or using printfs, check  
the value of the file descriptor(s) you are passing to select().

To answer your questions:
1) Yes, select() has bit arrays of fd's for "read", "write", and  
"exception" events, so that any of these activities are fine to use  
with select().  You need to check man pages to be sure you understand  
some of the "unusual" ways select() is activated.  See also the book  
"Unix Network Programming, V1, 2nd Ed.", by Stevens, for a very good  
discussion of this routine.

2) See above.  TCP Persistence is a very low-level function, and  
probably not related to this.  My guess is that you are giving the  
wrong FD to select, or perhaps using select incorrectly.

Regards,

Justin

--
Justin C. Walker, Curmudgeon-At-Large *
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