Writing a linux server in C

Hi all

If after some direction. I would like to write a server to run on debian using c and gcc.

1. The server should talk to clients via tcp
2. Read and write to the serial port (To control robot hardware and read sensors)
3. Procces commands from the network and return data to client re robot state.

All of these tasks should be non blocking for proccessed in parrallel.

Should I use fork() to set up 3 proccesses, one for each service ?
If I do this how should each proccess communicate ?

I have had a look at Beej's network programming tutorial and have had a client and server running, Im just not sure on how to integrate the other functions needed.

Any pointers to put me on the right course would be welcomed.

Thanks
Rob

Look up the select() call.
It allows you to monitor a number of file descriptors, and then act on each of them with something to do.

Im now playing with fcntl(socket, cmd, O_NONBLOCK);

This seems to be working. I just need a play with select and I should be some where near a running framework.

I currently have :

Code:

---

start_server();
launch_network_listnener();
set_network_to_non_blocking();
while(1)
{
      Check_for_net_connection();
      Answer_connection_in_fork();
      any_thing_else_i_need();
}

---

Thanks very much for your help.