alarm(2)							      alarm(2)

NAME    [Toc]    [Back]

     alarm - set a process alarm clock

SYNOPSIS    [Toc]    [Back]

     #include <unistd.h>

     unsigned alarm(unsigned sec);

DESCRIPTION    [Toc]    [Back]

     alarm instructs the alarm clock of	the calling process to send the	signal
     SIGALRM to	the calling process after the number of	real time seconds
     specified by sec have elapsed [see	signal(2)].

     Alarm requests are	not stacked; successive	calls reset the	alarm clock of
     the calling process.

     If	sec is 0, any previously made alarm request is canceled.

     fork sets the alarm clock of a new	process	to 0 [see fork(2)].  A process
     created by	the exec family	of routines inherits the time left on the old
     process's alarm clock.

SEE ALSO    [Toc]    [Back]

     fork(2), exec(2), pause(2), signal(2), sigset(2).

DIAGNOSTICS    [Toc]    [Back]

     alarm returns the amount of time previously remaining in the alarm	clock
     of	the calling process.

BUGS    [Toc]    [Back]

     alarm calls reset the itimer clock	of the calling process.


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