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34 .\" @(#)sigaltstack.2 8.1 (Berkeley) 6/4/93
41 .Nd set and/or get signal stack context
43 .Fd #include <sys/types.h>
44 .Fd #include <signal.h>
53 .Fn sigaltstack "const struct sigaltstack *ss" "struct sigaltstack *oss"
56 allows users to define an alternate stack on which signals
61 it specifies a pointer to and the size of a
63 on which to deliver signals,
64 and tells the system if the process is currently executing
66 When a signal's action indicates its handler
67 should execute on the signal stack (specified with a
69 call), the system checks to see
70 if the process is currently executing on that stack.
71 If the process is not currently executing on the signal stack,
72 the system arranges a switch to the signal stack for the
73 duration of the signal handler's execution.
82 are ignored and the signal stack will be disabled.
83 Trying to disable an active stack will cause
89 A disabled stack will cause all signals to be
90 taken on the regular user stack.
91 If the stack is later re-enabled then all signals that were specified
92 to be processed on an alternate stack will resume doing so.
96 is non-zero, the current signal stack state is returned.
99 field will contain the value
101 if the process is currently on a signal stack and
103 if the signal stack is currently disabled.
107 is defined to be the number of bytes/chars that would be used to cover
108 the usual case when allocating an alternate stack area.
109 The following code fragment is typically used to allocate an alternate stack.
110 .Bd -literal -offset indent
111 if ((sigstk.ss_sp = malloc(SIGSTKSZ)) == NULL)
113 sigstk.ss_size = SIGSTKSZ;
115 if (sigaltstack(&sigstk,0) < 0)
116 perror("sigaltstack");
118 An alternative approach is provided for programs with signal handlers
119 that require a specific amount of stack space other than the default size.
122 is defined to be the number of bytes/chars that is required by
123 the operating system to implement the alternate stack feature.
124 In computing an alternate stack size,
127 to their stack requirements to allow for the operating system overhead.
129 Signal stacks are automatically adjusted for the direction of stack
130 growth and alignment requirements.
131 Signal stacks may or may not be protected by the hardware and
132 are not ``grown'' automatically as is done for the normal stack.
133 If the stack overflows and this space is not protected
134 unpredictable results may occur.
136 Upon successful completion, a value of 0 is returned.
137 Otherwise, a value of -1 is returned and
139 is set to indicate the error.
142 will fail and the signal stack context will remain unchanged
143 if one of the following occurs.
144 .Bl -tag -width [ENOMEM]
150 points to memory that is not a valid part of the process
153 An attempt was made to disable an active stack.
155 Size of alternate stack area is less than or equal to
166 system call, appeared in