MUTEX(9)

NAME
mutex, mtx_init, mtx_enter, mtx_enter_try, mtx_leave - interface to CPU mutexes

SYNOPSIS
#include <sys/mutex.h>
void
mtx_init(struct mutex *mtxp, int wantipl);
void
mtx_enter(struct mutex *mtxp);
int
mtx_enter_try(struct mutex *mtxp);
void
mtx_leave(struct mutex *mtxp);
MUTEX_ASSERT_LOCKED(struct mutex *mtxp);
MUTEX_ASSERT_UNLOCKED(struct mutex *mtxp);

DESCRIPTION
The mutex set of functions provides a non-recursive, interrupt-aware spinning mechanism to ensure mutual exclusion between different CPUs.

The mtx_init() function is used to initiate the mutex pointed to by mtxp. When acquired, the mutex will cause the processor interrupt level to be raised to wantipl if necessary.

The mtx_enter() function acquires a mutex, spinning if necessary.

The mtx_enter_try() function attempts to acquire a mutex. If it succeeds in acquiring the mutex it will return non-zero, otherwise it will return 0.

The mtx_leave() function releases a mutex. In case the acquisition of the mutex caused the interrupt level to be changed, it is then restored.

The MUTEX_ASSERT_LOCKED() and MUTEX_ASSERT_UNLOCKED() macros may be used to assert that a mutex is held locked or unlocked by the current CPU.

SEE ALSO
lockmgr(9), rwlock(9), spl(9)

HISTORY
The mutex functions first appeared in OpenBSD 3.6.

AUTHORS
The mutex functions were written by Artur Grabowski <art@openbsd.org>.

CAVEATS
As these are spinning locks, don't sleep while holding one.

If using a mutex in an interrupt handler, locks must be initialised with the correct IPL or deadlock will occur.

Multiple mutexes may be nested, but not interleaved. This is okay:

    mtx_enter(foo);
    mtx_enter(bar);
    mtx_leave(bar);
    mtx_leave(foo);

While this is not:

    mtx_enter(foo);
    mtx_enter(bar);
    mtx_leave(foo);
    mtx_leave(bar);