Defect Report concerning: IEEE Std. 1003.1b-1993, ISO/IEC 9945-1:1990 AMD 1 - Realtime
Clause: page 245, 11.2.3.4
PASC Interpretation Ref: pasc-1003.1b-14
Topic: sem_open()


This is an unapproved interpretation of PASC 1003.1b-1993, ISO/IEC 9945-1:1990 AMD 1 - Realtime.

Use of the information contained in this unapproved document is at your own risk.

Last update: 23 March,1998


								1003.1b-93  #14

 _____________________________________________________________________________

	Interpretation Number:	XXXX
	Topic:               sem_open()
	Relevant Sections:   page 245, 11.2.3.4

(note page ref is to 1003.1-1996)


PASC Interpretation Request: (Defect Report)
----------------------------  
	From: W. Richard Stevens ( rstevens@kohala.com )
	Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 07:27:54 -0600

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 7  Defect Report concerning (number and title of International Standard
    or DIS final text, if applicable): 

IEEE Std 1003.1-1996 (incorporates 1003.1-1990, 1003.1b-1993, 1003.1c-1995, 
1003.1i-1995) (ISO 9945-1:1996)

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 8  Qualifier (e.g. error, omission, clarification required):

1

Error=1 , Omission=2, Clarification=3

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 9  References in document (e.g. page, clause, figure, and/or table
    numbers):

page 245, 11.2.3.4

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10  Nature of defect (complete, concise explanation of the perceived
    problem):


Under EACCES for the sem_open() function it says "permissions
specified by oflag are defined".  But there are no permissions
specified by the oflag argument for this function (e.g., no
O_RDONLY, O_WRONLY, or O_RDWR).  It appears some implementations
require read-write access by the callign process to access the
named semaphore, but that is not specified anywhere.  Minimally
this decription of the permissions specified by oflag needs to
be changed.

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11  Solution proposed by the submitter (optional):




------------------------------------------------------------------------ 



Interpretation response
------------------------
The standards states that "permissions specified by oflag are defined",
and conforming implementations must conform to this. However, concerns 
have been raised about this which are being referred to the sponsor.

Rationale
-------------
This appears to be a defect.  The sem_open() function has an implied
O_RDWR stuck into its oflags.   The requestor is correct that we should
consider changing the wording  to not refer to "the permissions in
oflags" but rather  to "the appropriate permissions to access the
semaphore".

Forwarded to Interpretations group: Feb 18 1998
Proposed Resolution: Mar 5 1998
Finalised: Mar 22 1998