Index: C:/Daten/Libraries/Boost/boost/config/platform/vxworks.hpp =================================================================== --- C:/Daten/Libraries/Boost/boost/config/platform/vxworks.hpp (Revision 58548) +++ C:/Daten/Libraries/Boost/boost/config/platform/vxworks.hpp (Revision 58549) @@ -21,10 +21,91 @@ // of executables differ largely in the available functionality of // the C-library, STL, and so on. A DKM uses a library similar to those // of vxWorks 5.X - with all its limitations and incompatibilities -// in respect to ANSI C++ and STL. So probably there might be problems +// with respect to ANSI C++ and STL. So probably there might be problems // with the usage of boost from DKMs. WRS or any voluteers are free to // prove the opposite! +// ==================================================================== +// +// Some important information regarding the usage of POSIX semaphores: +// ------------------------------------------------------------------- +// +// VxWorks as a real time operating system handles threads somewhat +// different from what "normal" OSes do, regarding their scheduling! +// This could lead to a scenario called "priority inversion" when using +// semaphores, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priority_inversion. +// +// Now, VxWorks POSIX-semaphores for DKM's default to the usage of +// priority inverting semaphores, which is fine. On the other hand, +// for RTP's it defaults to using non priority inverting semaphores, +// which could easily pose a serious problem for a real time process, +// i.e. deadlocks! To overcome this two possibilities do exist: +// +// a) Patch every piece of boost that uses semaphores to instanciate +// the proper type of semaphores. This is non-intrusive with respect +// to the OS and could relatively easy been done by giving all +// semaphores attributes deviating from the default (for in-depth +// information see the POSIX functions pthread_mutexattr_init() +// and pthread_mutexattr_setprotocol()). However this breaks all +// too easily, as with every new version some boost library could +// all in a sudden start using semaphores, resurrecting the very +// same, hard to locate problem over and over again! +// +// b) We could change the default properties for POSIX-semaphores +// that VxWorks uses for RTP's and this is being suggested here, +// as it will more or less seamlessly integrate with boost. I got +// the following information from WRS how to do this, compare +// Wind River TSR# 1209768: +// +// Instructions for changing the default properties of POSIX- +// semaphores for RTP's in VxWorks 6.9: +// - Edit the file /vxworks-6.9/target/usr/src/posix/pthreadLib.c +// in the root of your Workbench-installation. +// - Around line 917 there should be the definition of the default +// mutex attributes: +// +// LOCAL pthread_mutexattr_t defaultMutexAttr = +// { +// PTHREAD_INITIALIZED_OBJ, PTHREAD_PRIO_NONE, 0, +// PTHREAD_MUTEX_DEFAULT +// }; +// +// Here, replace PTHREAD_PRIO_NONE by PTHREAD_PRIO_INHERIT. +// - Around line 1236 there should be a definition for the function +// pthread_mutexattr_init(). A couple of lines below you should +// find a block of code like this: +// +// pAttr->mutexAttrStatus = PTHREAD_INITIALIZED_OBJ; +// pAttr->mutexAttrProtocol = PTHREAD_PRIO_NONE; +// pAttr->mutexAttrPrioceiling = 0; +// pAttr->mutexAttrType = PTHREAD_MUTEX_DEFAULT; +// +// Here again, replace PTHREAD_PRIO_NONE by PTHREAD_PRIO_INHERIT. +// - Finally, rebuild your VSB. This will create a new VxWorks kernel +// with the changed properties. That's it! Now, using boost should +// no longer cause any problems with task deadlocks! +// +// And here's another useful piece of information concerning VxWorks' +// POSIX-functionality in general: +// VxWorks is not a genuine POSIX-OS in itself, rather it is using a +// kind of compatibility layer (sort of a wrapper) to emulate the +// POSIX-functionality by using its own resources and functions. +// At the time a task (thread) calls it's first POSIX-function during +// runtime it is being transformed by the OS into a POSIX-thread. +// This transformation does include a call to malloc() to allocate the +// memory required for the housekeeping of POSIX-threads. In a high +// priority RTP this malloc() call may be highly undesirable, as its +// timing is more or less unpredictable (depending on what your actual +// heap looks like). You can circumvent this problem by calling the +// function thread_self() at a well defined point in the code of the +// task, e.g. shortly after the task spawns up. Thereby you are able +// to define the time when the task-transformation will take place and +// you could shift it to an uncritical point where a malloc() call is +// tolerable. So, if this could pose a problem for your code, remember +// to call thread_self() from the affected task at an early stage. +// +// ==================================================================== + // Block out all versions before vxWorks 6.x, as these don't work: // Include header with the vxWorks version information and query them #include