This layer acts as a single blocking point for a number of different types of things. With this layer, you can handle:
- _IO_* messages
- It uses the resmgr layer for this.
- select()
- Processes that do TCP/IP often call select() to block while waiting for packets to arrive, or for there to be room for writing more data. With the dispatch layer, you register a handler function that's called when a packet arrives. The functions for this are the select_*() functions.
- Pulses
- As with the other layers, you register a handler function that's called when a specific pulse arrives. The functions for this are the pulse_*() functions.
- Other messages
- You can give the dispatch layer a range of message types that you make up, and a handler. So if a message arrives and the first few bytes of the message contain a type in the given range, the dispatch layer calls your handler. The functions for this are the message_*() functions.
Figure 1. You can use the dispatch layer to handle _IO_* messages,
select, pulses,
and other messages.The following describes the manner in which messages are handled via the dispatch layer (or more precisely, through dispatch_handler()). Depending on the blocking type, the handler may call the message_*() subsystem. A search is made, based on the message type or pulse code, for a matching function that was attached using message_attach() or pulse_attach(). If a match is found, the attached function is called.
If the message type is in the range handled by the resource manager (I/O messages) and pathnames were attached using resmgr_attach(), the resource manager subsystem is called and handles the resource manager message.
If a pulse is received, it may be dispatched to the resource manager subsystem if it's one of the codes handled by a resource manager (UNBLOCK and DISCONNECT pulses). If a select_attach() is done and the pulse matches the one used by select, then the select subsystem is called and dispatches that event.
If a message is received and no matching handler is found for that message type, MsgError(ENOSYS) is returned to unblock the sender.