int socket_release( int socket, object ob, string release_callback );
This efun is only available if PACKAGE_SOCKETS is compiled in.
socket_release() is used to change ownership (and control) of a socket to another object. It is useful in daemon objects (like inetd) which handle connection set-up and then transfer a connected socket to another object for further processing.
Socket ownership transfer involves a handshake between the current owner object and the socket to which the current owner wishes to transfer the socket. The handshake is initiated when socket_release() is called. socket_release() does appropriate security/integrity checking and then calls the release_callback function in object ob. This function is used to notify ob that socket ownership is being transferred to it. It is then ob's responsibility to call socket_acquire() within the release callback function. If socket_acquire() is called then the handshake is complete and socket ownership has been successfully transferred to ob. ob may decline to accept responsibility for the socket by not calling socket_acquire(), in which case ownership does not change and the current socket owner must decide how to respond to this.
If the socket owner is successfully transfered then socket_release() returns EESUCCESS. If ob does not accept ownership for the socket then EESOCKNOTRLSD is returned (both in "socket_err.h"). Other errors can be returned based on security violation, bad socket descriptor vbalues, etc.
See also: socket_acquire
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