HEARTBEAT API

                                 Introduction:

   This document describes the application program interface for
   heartbeat. The following are the interfaces available for heartbeat.
    1. [1]ll_cluster_new()
    2. [2]singon()
    3. [3]signoff()
    4. [4]delete()
    5. [5]set_msg_callback()
    6. [6]set_nstatus_callback()
    7. [7]set _ifstatus_callback()
    8. [8]init_nodewalk()
    9. [9]nextnode()
   10. [10]end_nodewalk()
   11. [11]init_ifwalk()
   12. [12]nextif()
   13. [13]end_ifwalk()
   14. [14]if_status()
   15. [15]sendclustermsg()
   16. [16]sendnodemsg()
   17. [17]inputfd()
   18. [18]msgready()
   19. [19]setmsgsignal()
   20. [20]rcvmsg()
   21. [21]readmsg()
   22. [22]setfmode()
   23. [23]get_parameter()
   24. [24]get_deadtime()
   25. [25]get_keepalive()
   26. [26]get_mynodeid()
   27. [27]get_logfacility()
   28. [28]get_resources()
   29. [29]errmsg()

                                 Description:

   The details of each of the api functions are as follows:

ll_cluster_new()

   ll_cluster_t *ll_cluster_new(const char *type)

   Parameter description:
          'type' identifies the service provider. It's value must
          currently be "heartbeat".

   Description:
          Register with the heartbeat library and create a client
          instance of type "heartbeat"

   Return Value:
          returns a handle to the heartbeat library instance. This handle
          is a opaque object with a set of member functions. The member
          functions provide the necessary mechanism to interact with the
          heartbeat daemon. Returns NULL on failure.

   Observation:
          Why is 'type' parameter required when we know for sure that we
          are only interacting with the heartbeat daemon? Or is it that
          the library wants to be generic and wants to interact with any
          arbitrary daemon? Yes.  The latter.

signon()

   int *signon(struct ll_cluster cinfo*, const char *service)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new() 'service' is the type of service, which the
          calling process registers with the heartbeat daemon.

   Description:
          This function sets up a communication link with the local
          heartbeat daemon and registers itself for the 'service'
          service. In the case of casual client the clientid is NULL. But
          in the case of non-casual client the clientid is non-NULL and
          it indicates the service to which this client wants to sign on
          for. This special communication link setup with the heartbeat
          daemon is a fifo. Non-casual clients interact using a fifo
          whose name is derived from the pid of the clients process.
          Casual clients interact with heartbeat daemon using the fifo
          whose name is derived from the 'service'string.

          The heartbeat daemon has no notion for 'service'. Only the
          clients registered with the heartbeat daemons for the same
          service, have the notion for that service.  'service' mostly is
          a mechanism of providing primitive group services to a set of
          non-casual clients registered for that service.

   Return value:
          On success returns HA_OK
          On failure returns HA_FAIL

signoff()

   int signoff(struct ll_cluster *cinfo)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo' 
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new()

   Description:
          This function deletes the communication link with the local
          heartbeat daemon and unsubscribe itself from being a heartbeat
          client.

   Return Value:
          On success it returns HA_OK.
          On failure it returns HA_FAIL.

delete()

   int delete(struct ll_cluster *cinfo)

   Parameter Description:
   cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new()

   Description:
          This operation is reverse of ll_cluster_new(). It unsubscribes
          itself from the heartbeat library and cleans up the
          corresponding datastructures.

   Return Value:
          On success returns HA_OK
          On failure returns HA_FAIL

set_msg_callback()

   int set_msg_callback(struct ll_cluster *cinfo,   const char *msgtype,
     llc_msg_callback_t callback, void * p)

   Parameter Description:

   cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new()

   'msgtype'
          is the type of message on receipt of which the 'callback' is
          called.

   'callback'
          is the function to be called on receipt of a message of type
          'msgtype'.

   'p'
          is the parameter to be passed to the 'callback' function.

   Description:
          This function registers a callback function along with its
          parameter. The callback function is called by the heartbeat
          library on receipt of a message of type 'msgtype' from the
          heartbeat daemon.

   NOTE:
          Neither the heartbeat library nor heartbeat daemon interpret
          'msgtype'. The 'msgtype' is interpreted only by the client.
          Clients can coin their own msgtype as long as all the clients
          signed up for the same service can interpret it.

   Return Value:
          On success HA_OK is returned.
          On failure HA_FAIL is returned.

set_nstatus_callback()

   int set_nstatus_callback(struct ll_cluster *cinfo,
   llc_nstatus_callback_t cbf, void *p)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new

   'cbf'
          is the function pointer to be called on change of status of any
          node in the cluster.

   'p'
          is the parameter to be passed to the callback function.

   Description:
          This function registers a callback function along with its
          parameter. The callback function is called by the heartbeat
          library on change of status of any node in the cluster.

   Return Value:
          On success HA_OK is returned.

   Observation:
          There is a bug in this function. It does not validate the
          'cinfo' parameter'. It should return HA_FAIL on failure.

set_ifstatus_callback()

   int set_ifstatus_callback(struct ll_cluster *cinfo,
   llc_ifstatus_callback_t cbf, void *p)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new()

   cbf'
          is the function pointer to be called on change of status of any
          interface in the cluster.

   'p'
          is the parameter to be passed for the callback function.

   Description:
          This function registers a callback function along with its
          parameter. The callback function is called by the heartbeat
          library on change of status of any network interface in the
          cluster in the view of the current cluster node.

   Return Value:
          On success HA_OK is returned.

          Also there is a bug in this function. It does not validate the
          'cinfo' parameter'. It should return HA_FAIL on failure.

init_nodewalk()

   int init_nodewalk(struct ll_cluster_t *cinfo)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo' 
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new

   Description:
          This function talks to the heartbeat daemon and retrieves the
          set of nodes that are part of the cluster. If the retrieval is
          successful HA_OK is returned.

   Return Value:
          On success HA_OK is returned
          On failure HA_FAIL is returned

nextnode()

   char *nextnode(ll_cluster_t *cinfo)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance gotten through
          ll_cluster_new().

   Description/Return Value:,
          This function returns the next node in the cluster, which is
          cached in the heartbeat library. If no more node is available
          it returns NULL.

end_nodewalk()

   int end_nodewalk(ll_cluster_t *cinfo)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new().

   Description:
          This clears the cluster node information cached in the
          heartbeat library.

   Return Value:
          returns HA_OK on success  and HA_FAIL on failure.

init_ifwalk()

   int init_ifwalk(struct ll_cluster_t *cinfo, char *host)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new

   'host'
          is the node in the cluster whose network interfaces are of
          interest.

   Description:
          This function talks to the heartbeat daemon and caches all the
          network interface information associated with 'host' node. This
          caching is done in the heartbeat library.

   Return Value:
          If the network interface information can be successfully
          retrieved, HA_OK is returned. Failure returns HA_FAIL.

nextif()

     char * nextif(ll_cluster_t *cinfo)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new().

   Description:
          This function returns the next network interface of the 'host'
          node in the cluster, which is cached in the heartbeat library.

   NOTE:
          The 'host' is the node of the cluster specified during the call
          to init_ifwalk()

   Return Value:
          If no more interfaces are available it returns NULL.

end_ifwalk()

   int end_ifwalk(ll_cluster_t *cinfo)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo' 
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new().

   Description:
          This clears the network interface information cached in the
          heartbeat library.

   Return Value:
          returns HA_OK on success and HA_FAIL of failure.

if_status()

   char *  if_status(ll_cluster_t *cinfo, const char *host,
   const char *ifname)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new().

   'host'
          is the node name whose interface's status is queried.

   'ifname' is the name of the interface whose status is queried.
   Description:
          This function returns a string that specifies the state of the
          interface 'ifname' on cluster node 'host'

   Return Value:
          It returns "up" if the link is active and "dead" if the link is
          down. NULL if there was a error.

sendclustermsg()

   int sendclustermsg(ll_cluster_t *cinfo, struct ha_msg* msg)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new().

   'msg' 
          is the message to be sent to all non-casual clients signed up
          for the same service as that of the calling client.

   Description:
          This function broadcasts the message to all members of the
          group.

   Return Value:
          This function returns HA_FAIL if called by a casual client or
          if there was some other failure.
          On success it returns HA_OK.

sendnodemsg()

   int sendnodemsg(ll_cluster_t *cinfo, struct ha_msg* msg,
   const char *nodename)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new().

   'msg'
          is the message to be sent to a non-casual client signed on to
          the same service on node 'nodename'.

   Description:
          This function sends the message to a non-casual client residing
          on node 'nodename'. The client belongs to the same group as
          that of the calling client.

   Return Value:
          This function returns HA_FAIL if called by a casual client or
          if there was some other failure.
          On success it returns HA_OK.

inputfd()

   int inputfd(ll_cluster * cinfo)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new().

   Description/Return Value:
          returns the file descriptor of the communication link setup
          with the local heartbeat daemon.
          On failure it returns -1.

   Observation:
          This function is needed in order to be able to perform a select
          function which selects on incoming API messages. It should not
          be used for any other purpose.

msgready()

   int msgready(ll_cluster_t *cinfo)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new().

   Description:
          checks if there is any message to be read.

   Return Value:
          If a message is ready to be read returns non zero value.
          Otherwise returns 0.

setmsgsignal()

   int setmsgsignal(ll_cluster_t *cinfo, int nsig)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new().

   'nsig'
          is the signal to be used by heartbeat daemon to signal the
          client process.

   Description:
          This function informs the heartbeat daemon send signal number
          'nsig' whenever a message arrives for it.

   Return Value:
          returns HA_OK on success
          and HA_FAIL on failure

rcvmsg()

   int rcvmsg(ll_cluster_t *cinfo,  int blocking)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new().

   'blocking'
          indicates whether to block for the receipt of a message or not.

   Description/Return Value:
          This function returns true if a message for which a callback
          function was not registered is received.

          If blocking is set, then it waits till a message arrives. But
          it returns true only if that message does not have a callback
          registered.

   NOTE:
          In all cases, received messages are deleted by this call.

   Observation:
          This interface is provided as a convenience to allow for
          clients which only process certain message types through
          registered callback functions to never have to worry about the
          possibility of failing to destroy their messages. If you
          process all messages you handle with callbacks, then this
          function is a convenient choice. Otherwise, you likely need to
          use readmsg().

readmsg()

   struct ha_msg * readmsg(ll_cluster_t *cinfo, int blocking)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new().

   'blocking'
          indicates whether to block for the receipt of a message or not.

   Description/Return Value:
          This function is same as rcvmsg except that it returns messages
          without registered callbacks to the caller (and does not delete
          them). It returns the next message for which a callback is not
          registered.

          If 'blocking' is set to FALSE, it will not wait for a message
          to arrive. It returns NULL if there is not currently a message
          ready to read which is not intercepted by a callback function.

   NOTE:
          The message returned must be disposed off by the caller by
          calling ha_msg_del().

setfmode()

   int setfmode(ll_cluster_t *cinfo, int mode)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new().

   'mode'
          indicates the type of messages to be delivered to the client
          and to filter out the rest.

          The modes have the following meanings:

        LLC_FILTER_DEFAULT
                All messages destined to this client are received, along
                with all that are addressed to all clients.

        LLC_FILTER_PMODE
                All messages, but filter out heartbeats that don't tell
                us anything new.

        LLC_FILTER_ALLHB
                All heartbeats including those that don't change status.

        LLC_FILTER_RAW
                All packets from all interfaces, even duplicates. Packets
                with authentication errors are still ignored.

   Description:
          This function sets up the type of messages that the client is
          interested; to be received from the local heartbeat daemon. It
          is mainly used for debugging.

   Return Value:
          returns HA_OK on success and HA_FAIL on failure

   get_parameter()

          char* get_parameter(struct ll_cluster_t * cinfo, char *pname)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new

   'pname'
          is the name of the parameter to retrieve

   Description:
          This function retrieves the value of the named parameter from
          heartbeat. The parameters supported are listed in <hb_api.h>.

   Return Value:
          If the network interface information can be successfully
          retrieved, a pointer to a malloced string is returned. NULL is
          returned on failure.  This value is malloced, and the caller
          must free the return value is no longer needed.

   get_deadtime()

          long get_deadtime(struct ll_cluster_t * cinfo)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new

   Description:
          This function retrieves the deadtime value from heartbeat.  The
          value returned is in milliseconds.

   Return Value:
          The return value is the deadtime, measured in milliseconds.

   get_keepalive()

          long get_keepalive(struct ll_cluster_t * cinfo)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new().

   Description:
          This function retrieves the keepalive value from heartbeat.
          The value returned is in milliseconds.

   Return Value:
          The return value is the keepalive interval, measured in
          milliseconds.

get_mynodeid()

   const char * get_mynodeid(ll_cluster_t *cinfo)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new

   Description/Return Value:
          This function returns the node id of the current cluster node.
           It is generally (though not always) the same as the uname -n
          name of the current server.  The return value is a static
          value.

   get_logfacility()

          long get_logfacility(struct ll_cluster_t * cinfo)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new().

   Description:
          This function retrieves the logfacility value from heartbeat.

   Return Value:
          The return value is the logfacility currently being used by
          heartbeat.  If there is no log facility being used by
          heartbeat, then it will return -1.

get_resources()

   const char * get_resources(ll_cluster_t *cinfo)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new

   Description/Return Value:
          This function returns the current resource allocation as
          supported by the current resource management function.  The
          return value is a static string containing one of "local",
          "foreign", "all", "none" or "transition"..  "local" means the
          local nodes is supporting only local resources.  "foreign"
          means the local node is supporting only foreign resources
          (those belonging to the other node).  "all" means the local
          node is supporting all cluster resources.  "none" means the
          local node is not providing any cluster resources.
          "transition" means that resources are currently in transition.
           If heartbeat is not providing resource management, the return
          value will be NULL.

errmsg()

   const char * errmsg(ll_cluster_t *cinfo)

   Parameter Description:
   'cinfo'
          is the handle to the library instance got through
          ll_cluster_new

   Description/Return Value:
          This function returns the last set of error messages from the
          previous API call. This is not a very wonderful interface
          (according to alanr)

References

   1. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#ll_cluster_new%28%29
   2. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#signon%28%29
   3. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#signoff%28%29
   4. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#delete%28%29
   5. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#set_msg_callback%28%29
   6. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#set_nstatus_callback%28%29
   7. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#set_ifstatus_callback%28%29
   8. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#init_nodewalk%28%29
   9. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#nextnode%28%29
  10. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#end_nodewalk%28%29
  11. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#init_ifwalk%28%29
  12. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#nextif%28ll_cluster_t%20*cinfo%29
  13. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#end_ifwalk%28%29
  14. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#if_status%28%29
  15. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#sendclustermsg%28%29
  16. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#sendnodemsg%28%29
  17. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#inputfd%28%29
  18. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#msgready%28%29
  19. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#setmsgsignal%28%29
  20. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#rcvmsg%28%29
  21. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#readmsg%28%29
  22. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#setfmode%28%29
  23. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#get_parameter
  24. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#get_deadtime
  25. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#get_keepalive
  26. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#get_mynodeid
  27. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#get_logfacility
  28. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#get_resources
  29. file://localhost/home/alanr/linux-ha-1.2/doc/heartbeat_api.html#errmsg%28%29