GETNETPATH(3) | Library Functions Manual | GETNETPATH(3)

# NAME

`getnetpath`, `setnetpath`, `endnetpath` —
get /etc/netconfig entry corresponding to NETPATH component

# LIBRARY

Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

# SYNOPSIS

`#include <netconfig.h>`

struct netconfig *
`getnetpath`(void *handlep);

void *
`setnetpath`(void);

int
`endnetpath`(void *handlep);

# DESCRIPTION

The routines described in this page provide the application access to the system network configuration database, /etc/netconfig, as it is “filtered” by the NETPATH environment variable (see environ(7)). See getnetconfig(3) for other routines that also access the network configuration database directly. The NETPATH variable is a list of colon-separated network identifiers.

`getnetpath`() returns a pointer to the netconfig database entry corresponding to the first valid NETPATH component. The netconfig entry is formatted as a struct netconfig. On each subsequent call, `getnetpath`() returns a pointer to the netconfig entry that corresponds to the next valid NETPATH component. `getnetpath`() can thus be used to search the netconfig database for all networks included in the NETPATH variable. When NETPATH has been exhausted, `getnetpath`() returns NULL.

A call to `setnetpath`() “binds” to or “rewinds” NETPATH. `setnetpath`() must be called before the first call to `getnetpath`() and may be called at any other time. It returns a handle that is used by `getnetpath`().

`getnetpath`() silently ignores invalid NETPATH components. A NETPATH component is invalid if there is no corresponding entry in the netconfig database.

If the NETPATH variable is unset, `getnetpath`() behaves as if NETPATH were set to the sequence of “default” or “visible” networks in the netconfig database, in the order in which they are listed.

`endnetpath`() may be called to “unbind” from NETPATH when processing is complete, releasing resources for reuse. Programmers should be aware, however, that `endnetpath`() frees all memory allocated by `getnetpath`() for the struct netconfig data structure.

# RETURN VALUES

`setnetpath`() returns a handle that is used by `getnetpath`(). In case of an error, `setnetpath`() returns NULL.

`endnetpath`() returns 0 on success and -1 on failure (for example, if `setnetpath`() was not called previously). `nc_perror`() or `nc_sperror`() can be used to print out the reason for failure. See getnetconfig(3).

When first called, `getnetpath`() returns a pointer to the netconfig database entry corresponding to the first valid NETPATH component. When NETPATH has been exhausted, `getnetpath`() returns NULL.

# SEE ALSO

getnetconfig(3), netconfig(5), environ(7)

April 22, 2000 | NetBSD 9.0