System Calls in C++: Open Read Write Close Wait Fork Exec

System Calls in C++
A system call is just what its name implies—a request for the operating system to do
something
on behalf of the user’s program
open()
read()
write()
close()
wait()
fork()
exec()
open()
Next is the open() system call. open() lets you open a file for reading, writing, or reading
and writing.
int open(file_name, mode)
where file_name is a pointer to the character string that names the file and mode defines
the file's access permissions if the file is being created.
read() and write()
The read() system call does all input and the write() system call does all output. When used
together, they provide all the tools necessary to do input and output.
Both read() and write() take three arguments. Their prototypes are:
int read(file_descriptor, buffer_pointer, transfer_size)
int file_descriptor;
char *buffer_pointer;
unsigned transfer_size;
int write(file_descriptor, buffer_pointer, transfer_size)
char *buffer_pointer;
unsigned transfer_size;
where file_descriptor identifies the I/O channel, buffer_pointer points to the area in
memory where the data is stored for a read() or where the data is taken for a write(), and
transfer_size defines the maximum
close()
To close a channel, use the close() system call. The prototype for the
close() system call is:
int close(file_descriptor)
Implementation of open(), read(), write() and close() functions
#include<stdio.h>
#include<fcntl.h>
int main()
{
int fd;
char buffer[80];
static char message[] = "Hello, world";
fd = open("myfile",O_RDWR);
if (fd != -1)
{
printf("myfile opened for read/write access\n");
write(fd, message, sizeof(message));
lseek(fd, 0, 0); /* go back to the beginning of the file */
read(fd, buffer, sizeof(message)
printf(" %s was written to myfile \n", buffer);
close (fd);
}
}
fork()
When the fork system call is executed, a new process is created which consists of a copy of the address
space of the parent.
The return code for fork is zero for the child process and the process identifier of child is returned to the
parent process.
On success, both processes continue execution at the instruction after the fork call.
On failure, -1 is returned to the parent process
ork()—Sample Code
Implementing fork system call using C program
#include <sys/types.h>
main()
{
pid_t pid;
pid = fork();
if (pid == 0)
printf("\n I'm the child process");
else if (pid > 0)
printf("\n I'm the parent process. My child pid is %d", pid);
else
perror("error in fork");
}
wait()
The wait system call suspends the calling process until one of its immediate children
terminates.
If the call is successful, the process ID of the terminating child is returned.
Zombie process—a process that has terminated but whose exit status has not yet been
received by its parent process.
o the process will remain in the operating system’s process table as a zombie process, indicating that
it is not to be scheduled for further execution
o But that it cannot be completely removed (and its process ID cannot be reused)
pid_t wait(int *status);
Where status is an integer value where the UNIX system stores the value returned by child
process
implementing wait system wall
#include <stdio.h>
void main()
{
int pid, status;
pid = fork();
if(pid == -1)
{
printf(“fork failed\n”);
exit(1);
}
if(pid == 0)
{ /* Child */
printf(“Child here!\n”);
}
else
{ /* Parent */
wait(&status);
printf(“Well done kid!\n”);
}
}
Exec()
Typically the exec system call is used after a fork system call by one of the two processes
to replace the process’ memory space with a new executable program.
The new process image is constructed from an ordinary, executable file.
There can be no return from a successful exec because the calling process image is 
overlaid by the new process image
Implementing exec system using C program

execl Takes the path name of an executable program (binary file) as its
first argument. The rest of the arguments are a list of command
line arguments to the new program (argv[]). The list is
terminated with a null pointer:
execl("a.out", "a.out”,NULL)
___________________________________________________________________________
#include <unistd.h>
Page 11
void main()
{
printf(“ 1 \n”);
execl(“/bin/ls”,”ls”,NULL);
}
Example 2
Step 1
Create a file with name prog2 ,compile it and run it.
#include <stdio.h>
void main()
{
printf(“2”);
}
chmod 755 prog2.c
gcc –o prog2 prog2.c
Step 2
#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
void main()
{
printf(“1 \n”);
execl(“/home/user/prog2”,”prog2”,NULL);
}
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System Calls in C++

implementing wait system wall

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