NAME    [Toc]    [Back]

     pidfile - write a daemon pid file

SYNOPSIS    [Toc]    [Back]

     #include <util.h>

     int
     pidfile(const char *basename);

DESCRIPTION    [Toc]    [Back]

     pidfile() writes a file containing the  process  ID  of  the
program to the
     /var/run   directory.    The   file   name   has   the  form
/var/run/basename.pid.
     If the basename argument is NULL, pidfile will determine the
program name
     and use that instead.

     The pid file can be used as a quick reference if the process
needs to be
     sent a signal.  When the program exits, the pid file will be
removed automatically,
 unless the program receives a fatal signal.

RETURN VALUES    [Toc]    [Back]

     pidfile() returns 0 on success and -1 on failure.

SEE ALSO    [Toc]    [Back]

     atexit(3)

HISTORY    [Toc]    [Back]

     The pidfile function call appeared in OpenBSD 3.0.

CAVEATS    [Toc]    [Back]

     If   pidfile()  is  called  multiple  times  with  different
basename, only the
     last pidfile will be removed upon exit.

     pidfile() uses atexit() to ensure the pidfile is unlinked at
program exit.
   However,  programs  that use the _exit() function (for
example, in
     signal handlers) will not trigger this behaviour.

OpenBSD      3.6                           June      5,      1999