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(libc.info)Socket Addresses

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Socket Addresses
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   The name of a socket is normally called an "address".  The functions
and symbols for dealing with socket addresses were named
inconsistently, sometimes using the term "name" and sometimes using
"address".  You can regard these terms as synonymous where sockets are
concerned.

   A socket newly created with the `socket' function has no address.
Other processes can find it for communication only if you give it an
address.  We call this "binding" the address to the socket, and the way
to do it is with the `bind' function.

   You need be concerned with the address of a socket if other processes
are to find it and start communicating with it.  You can specify an
address for other sockets, but this is usually pointless; the first time
you send data from a socket, or use it to initiate a connection, the
system assigns an address automatically if you have not specified one.

   Occasionally a client needs to specify an address because the server
discriminates based on address; for example, the rsh and rlogin
protocols look at the client's socket address and only bypass password
checking if it is less than `IPPORT_RESERVED' (Note: Ports).

   The details of socket addresses vary depending on what namespace you
are using.  Note: Local Namespace, or Note: Internet Namespace, for
specific information.

   Regardless of the namespace, you use the same functions `bind' and
`getsockname' to set and examine a socket's address.  These functions
use a phony data type, `struct sockaddr *', to accept the address.  In
practice, the address lives in a structure of some other data type
appropriate to the address format you are using, but you cast its
address to `struct sockaddr *' when you pass it to `bind'.

Address Formats

About `struct sockaddr'.

Setting Address

Binding an address to a socket.

Reading Address

Reading the address of a socket.