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Device Server Programmer's Manual
version 2.0 A. Götz

Abstract:

Device servers are server processes which provide network access to devices. A device can be a logical or physical entity. Network access is provided by a set of remote procedure calls which implement a standard protocol. Clients access devices using a standardised application programmers interface. Device servers have to follow a certain style. Entry points are fixed so that the same application programmers interface can be used for all kinds of device. Each device is treated as an object belonging to a certain class. The classes are implemented in C and support object oriented programming techniques. This programmer's manual explains how to write a device server. It explains how to write a Device Server from scratch and what should go into a device server. It gives hints on how to abstract a device into a class, how to handle device startup, what commands to define and how to pass parameters. It also contains an elementary discussion on how to treat errors. The manual is aimed at the beginner and advanced device server programmer.





Andy Goetz
Tue Jan 28 13:58:13 MET 1997