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diff --git a/doc/html/TechNotes/VFL.html b/doc/html/TechNotes/VFL.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5660b61 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/html/TechNotes/VFL.html @@ -0,0 +1,1482 @@ +<HTML> +<HEAD> +<!-- This HTML file has been created by texi2html 1.51 + from VFL.texi on 18 November 1999 --> + +<TITLE>HDF5 Virtual File Layer</TITLE> +</HEAD> +<BODY> +<H1>HDF5</H1> +<H2>Virtual File Layer</H2> +<H2>Proposal 1999-08-11</H2> +<ADDRESS>Robb Matzke</ADDRESS> +<P> +<P><HR><P> +<H1>Table of Contents</H1> +<UL> +<LI><A NAME="TOC1" HREF="VFL.html#SEC1">Introduction</A> +<LI><A NAME="TOC2" HREF="VFL.html#SEC2">Using a File Driver</A> +<UL> +<LI><A NAME="TOC3" HREF="VFL.html#SEC3">Driver Header Files</A> +<LI><A NAME="TOC4" HREF="VFL.html#SEC4">Creating and Opening Files</A> +<LI><A NAME="TOC5" HREF="VFL.html#SEC5">Performing I/O</A> +<LI><A NAME="TOC6" HREF="VFL.html#SEC6">File Driver Interchangeability</A> +</UL> +<LI><A NAME="TOC7" HREF="VFL.html#SEC7">Implementation of a Driver</A> +<UL> +<LI><A NAME="TOC8" HREF="VFL.html#SEC8">Mode Functions</A> +<LI><A NAME="TOC9" HREF="VFL.html#SEC9">File Functions</A> +<UL> +<LI><A NAME="TOC10" HREF="VFL.html#SEC10">Opening Files</A> +<LI><A NAME="TOC11" HREF="VFL.html#SEC11">Closing Files</A> +<LI><A NAME="TOC12" HREF="VFL.html#SEC12">File Keys</A> +<LI><A NAME="TOC13" HREF="VFL.html#SEC13">Saving Modes Across Opens</A> +</UL> +<LI><A NAME="TOC14" HREF="VFL.html#SEC14">Address Space Functions</A> +<UL> +<LI><A NAME="TOC15" HREF="VFL.html#SEC15">Userblock and Superblock</A> +<LI><A NAME="TOC16" HREF="VFL.html#SEC16">Allocation of Format Regions</A> +<LI><A NAME="TOC17" HREF="VFL.html#SEC17">Freeing Format Regions</A> +<LI><A NAME="TOC18" HREF="VFL.html#SEC18">Querying Address Range</A> +</UL> +<LI><A NAME="TOC19" HREF="VFL.html#SEC19">Data Functions</A> +<UL> +<LI><A NAME="TOC20" HREF="VFL.html#SEC20">Contiguous I/O Functions</A> +<LI><A NAME="TOC21" HREF="VFL.html#SEC21">Flushing Cached Data</A> +</UL> +<LI><A NAME="TOC22" HREF="VFL.html#SEC22">Registration of a Driver</A> +<LI><A NAME="TOC23" HREF="VFL.html#SEC23">Querying Driver Information</A> +</UL> +<LI><A NAME="TOC24" HREF="VFL.html#SEC24">Miscellaneous</A> +</UL> +<P><HR><P> + + +<H1><A NAME="SEC1" HREF="VFL.html#TOC1">Introduction</A></H1> + +<P> +The HDF5 file format describes how HDF5 data structures and dataset raw +data are mapped to a linear <STRONG>format address space</STRONG> and the HDF5 +library implements that bidirectional mapping in terms of an +API. However, the HDF5 format specifications do <EM>not</EM> indicate how +the format address space is mapped onto storage and HDF (version 5 and +earlier) simply mapped the format address space directly onto a single +file by convention. + +</P> +<P> +Since early versions of HDF5 it became apparent that users want the ability to +map the format address space onto different types of storage (a single file, +multiple files, local memory, global memory, network distributed global +memory, a network protocol, <I>etc</I>.) with various types of maps. For +instance, some users want to be able to handle very large format address +spaces on operating systems that support only 2GB files by partitioning the +format address space into equal-sized parts each served by a separate +file. Other users want the same multi-file storage capability but want to +partition the address space according to purpose (raw data in one file, object +headers in another, global heap in a third, <I>etc.</I>) in order to improve I/O +speeds. + +</P> +<P> +In fact, the number of storage variations is probably larger than the +number of methods that the HDF5 team is capable of implementing and +supporting. Therefore, a <STRONG>Virtual File Layer</STRONG> API is being +implemented which will allow application teams or departments to design +and implement their own mapping between the HDF5 format address space +and storage, with each mapping being a separate <STRONG>file driver</STRONG> +(possibly written in terms of other file drivers). The HDF5 team will +provide a small set of useful file drivers which will also serve as +examples for those who which to write their own: + +</P> +<DL COMPACT> + +<DT><CODE>H5FD_SEC2</CODE> +<DD> +This is the default driver which uses Posix file-system functions like +<CODE>read</CODE> and <CODE>write</CODE> to perform I/O to a single file. All I/O +requests are unbuffered although the driver does optimize file seeking +operations to some extent. + +<DT><CODE>H5FD_STDIO</CODE> +<DD> +This driver uses functions from <TT>`stdio.h'</TT> to perform buffered I/O +to a single file. + +<DT><CODE>H5FD_CORE</CODE> +<DD> +This driver performs I/O directly to memory and can be used to create small +temporary files that never exist on permanent storage. This type of storage is +generally very fast since the I/O consists only of memory-to-memory copy +operations. + +<DT><CODE>H5FD_MPIIO</CODE> +<DD> +This is the driver of choice for accessing files in parallel using MPI and +MPI-IO. It is only predefined if the library is compiled with parallel I/O +support. + +<DT><CODE>H5FD_FAMILY</CODE> +<DD> +Large format address spaces are partitioned into more manageable pieces and +sent to separate storage locations using an underlying driver of the user's +choice. The <CODE>h5repart</CODE> tool can be used to change the sizes of the +family members when stored as files or to convert a family of files to a +single file or vice versa. + +<DT><CODE>H5FD_SPLIT</CODE> +<DD> +The format address space is split into meta data and raw data and each is +mapped onto separate storage using underlying drivers of the user's +choice. The meta data storage can be read by itself (for limited +functionality) or both files can be accessed together. +</DL> + + + +<H1><A NAME="SEC2" HREF="VFL.html#TOC2">Using a File Driver</A></H1> + +<P> +Most application writers will use a driver defined by the HDF5 library or +contributed by another programming team. This chapter describes how existing +drivers are used. + +</P> + + + +<H2><A NAME="SEC3" HREF="VFL.html#TOC3">Driver Header Files</A></H2> + +<P> +Each file driver is defined in its own public header file which should +be included by any application which plans to use that driver. The +predefined drivers are in header files whose names begin with +<SAMP>`H5FD'</SAMP> followed by the driver name and <SAMP>`.h'</SAMP>. The <TT>`hdf5.h'</TT> +header file includes all the predefined driver header files. + +</P> +<P> +Once the appropriate header file is included a symbol of the form +<SAMP>`H5FD_'</SAMP> followed by the upper-case driver name will be the driver +identification number.<A NAME="DOCF1" HREF="VFL.html#FOOT1">(1)</A> However, the +value may change if the library is closed (<I>e.g.</I>, by calling +<CODE>H5close</CODE>) and the symbol is referenced again. + +</P> + + +<H2><A NAME="SEC4" HREF="VFL.html#TOC4">Creating and Opening Files</A></H2> + +<P> +In order to create or open a file one must define the method by which the +storage is accessed<A NAME="DOCF2" HREF="VFL.html#FOOT2">(2)</A> and does so by creating a file access property list<A NAME="DOCF3" HREF="VFL.html#FOOT3">(3)</A> which is passed to the <CODE>H5Fcreate</CODE> or +<CODE>H5Fopen</CODE> function. A default file access property list is created by +calling <CODE>H5Pcreate</CODE> and then the file driver information is inserted by +calling a driver initialization function such as <CODE>H5Pset_fapl_family</CODE>: + +</P> + +<PRE> +hid_t fapl = H5Pcreate(H5P_FILE_ACCESS); +size_t member_size = 100*1024*1024; /*100MB*/ +H5Pset_fapl_family(fapl, member_size, H5P_DEFAULT); +hid_t file = H5Fcreate("foo%05d.h5", H5F_ACC_TRUNC, H5P_DEFAULT, fapl); +H5Pclose(fapl); +</PRE> + +<P> +Each file driver will have its own initialization function +whose name is <CODE>H5Pset_fapl_</CODE> followed by the driver name and which +takes a file access property list as the first argument followed by +additional driver-dependent arguments. + +</P> +<P> +An alternative to using the driver initialization function is to set the +driver directly using the <CODE>H5Pset_driver</CODE> function.<A NAME="DOCF4" HREF="VFL.html#FOOT4">(4)</A> Its second argument is the file driver identifier, which may +have a different numeric value from run to run depending on the order in which +the file drivers are registered with the library. The third argument +encapsulates the additional arguments of the driver initialization +function. This method only works if the file driver writer has made the +driver-specific property list structure a public datatype, which is +often not the case. + +</P> + +<PRE> +hid_t fapl = H5Pcreate(H5P_FILE_ACCESS); +static H5FD_family_fapl_t fa = {100*1024*1024, H5P_DEFAULT}; +H5Pset_driver(fapl, H5FD_FAMILY, &fa); +hid_t file = H5Fcreate("foo.h5", H5F_ACC_TRUNC, H5P_DEFAULT, fapl); +H5Pclose(fapl); +</PRE> + +<P> +It is also possible to query the file driver information from a file access +property list by calling <CODE>H5Pget_driver</CODE> to determine the driver and then +calling a driver-defined query function to obtain the driver information: + +</P> + +<PRE> +hid_t driver = H5Pget_driver(fapl); +if (H5FD_SEC2==driver) { + /*nothing further to get*/ +} else if (H5FD_FAMILY==driver) { + hid_t member_fapl; + haddr_t member_size; + H5Pget_fapl_family(fapl, &member_size, &member_fapl); +} else if (....) { + .... +} +</PRE> + + + +<H2><A NAME="SEC5" HREF="VFL.html#TOC5">Performing I/O</A></H2> + +<P> +The <CODE>H5Dread</CODE> and <CODE>H5Dwrite</CODE> functions transfer data between +application memory and the file. They both take an optional data transfer +property list which has some general driver-independent properties and +optional driver-defined properties. An application will typically perform I/O +in one of three styles via the <CODE>H5Dread</CODE> or <CODE>H5Dwrite</CODE> function: + +</P> +<P> +Like file access properties in the previous section, data transfer properties +can be set using a driver initialization function or a general purpose +function. For example, to set the MPI-IO driver to use independent access for +I/O operations one would say: + +</P> + +<PRE> +hid_t dxpl = H5Pcreate(H5P_DATA_XFER); +H5Pset_dxpl_mpio(dxpl, H5FD_MPIO_INDEPENDENT); +H5Dread(dataset, type, mspace, fspace, buffer, dxpl); +H5Pclose(dxpl); +</PRE> + +<P> +The alternative is to initialize a driver defined C <CODE>struct</CODE> and pass it +to the <CODE>H5Pset_driver</CODE> function: + +</P> + +<PRE> +hid_t dxpl = H5Pcreate(H5P_DATA_XFER); +static H5FD_mpio_dxpl_t dx = {H5FD_MPIO_INDEPENDENT}; +H5Pset_driver(dxpl, H5FD_MPIO, &dx); +H5Dread(dataset, type, mspace, fspace, buffer, dxpl); +</PRE> + +<P> +The transfer propery list can be queried in a manner similar to the file +access property list: the driver provides a function (or functions) to return +various information about the transfer property list: + +</P> + +<PRE> +hid_t driver = H5Pget_driver(dxpl); +if (H5FD_MPIO==driver) { + H5FD_mpio_xfer_t xfer_mode; + H5Pget_dxpl_mpio(dxpl, &xfer_mode); +} else { + .... +} +</PRE> + + + +<H2><A NAME="SEC6" HREF="VFL.html#TOC6">File Driver Interchangeability</A></H2> + +<P> +The HDF5 specifications describe two things: the mapping of data onto a linear +<STRONG>format address space</STRONG> and the C API which performs the mapping. +However, the mapping of the format address space onto storage intentionally +falls outside the scope of the HDF5 specs. This is a direct result of the fact +that it is not generally possible to store information about how to access +storage inside the storage itself. For instance, given only the file name +<TT>`/arborea/1225/work/f%03d'</TT> the HDF5 library is unable to tell whether the +name refers to a file on the local file system, a family of files on the local +file system, a file on host <SAMP>`arborea'</SAMP> port 1225, a family of files on a +remote system, <I>etc</I>. + +</P> +<P> +Two ways which library could figure out where the storage is located are: +storage access information can be provided by the user, or the library can try +all known file access methods. This implementation uses the former method. + +</P> +<P> +In general, if a file was created with one driver then it isn't possible to +open it with another driver. There are of course exceptions: a file created +with MPIO could probably be opened with the sec2 driver, any file created +by the sec2 driver could be opened as a family of files with one member, +<I>etc</I>. In fact, sometimes a file must not only be opened with the same +driver but also with the same driver properties. The predefined drivers are +written in such a way that specifying the correct driver is sufficient for +opening a file. + +</P> + + +<H1><A NAME="SEC7" HREF="VFL.html#TOC7">Implementation of a Driver</A></H1> + +<P> +A driver is simply a collection of functions and data structures which are +registered with the HDF5 library at runtime. The functions fall into these +categories: + +</P> + +<UL> +<LI>Functions which operate on modes + +<LI>Functions which operate on files + +<LI>Functions which operate on the address space + +<LI>Functions which operate on data + +<LI>Functions for driver initialization + +<LI>Optimization functions + +</UL> + + + +<H2><A NAME="SEC8" HREF="VFL.html#TOC8">Mode Functions</A></H2> + +<P> +Some drivers need information about file access and data transfers which are +very specific to the driver. The information is usually implemented as a pair +of pointers to C structs which are allocated and initialized as part of an +HDF5 property list and passed down to various driver functions. There are two +classes of settings: file access modes that describe how to access the file +through the driver, and data transfer modes which are settings that control +I/O operations. Each file opened by a particular driver may have a different +access mode; each dataset I/O request for a particular file may have a +different data transfer mode. + +</P> +<P> +Since each driver has its own particular requirements for various settings, +each driver is responsible for defining the mode structures that it +needs. Higher layers of the library treat the structures as opaque but must be +able to copy and free them. Thus, the driver provides either the size of the +structure or a pair of function pointers for each of the mode types. + +</P> +<P> +<STRONG>Example:</STRONG> The family driver needs to know how the format address +space is partitioned and the file access property list to use for the +family members. + +</P> + +<PRE> +/* Driver-specific file access properties */ +typedef struct H5FD_family_fapl_t { + hsize_t memb_size; /*size of each member */ + hid_t memb_fapl_id; /*file access property list of each memb*/ +} H5FD_family_fapl_t; + +/* Driver specific data transfer properties */ +typedef struct H5FD_family_dxpl_t { + hid_t memb_dxpl_id; /*data xfer property list of each memb */ +} H5FD_family_dxpl_t; +</PRE> + +<P> +In order to copy or free one of these structures the member file access +or data transfer properties must also be copied or freed. This is done +by providing a copy and close function for each structure: + +</P> +<P> +<STRONG>Example:</STRONG> The file access property list copy and close functions +for the family driver: + +</P> + +<PRE> +static void * +H5FD_family_fapl_copy(const void *_old_fa) +{ + const H5FD_family_fapl_t *old_fa = (const H5FD_family_fapl_t*)_old_fa; + H5FD_family_fapl_t *new_fa = malloc(sizeof(H5FD_family_fapl_t)); + assert(new_fa); + + memcpy(new_fa, old_fa, sizeof(H5FD_family_fapl_t)); + new_fa->memb_fapl_id = H5Pcopy(old_fa->memb_fapl_id); + return new_fa; +} + +static herr_t +H5FD_family_fapl_free(void *_fa) +{ + H5FD_family_fapl_t *fa = (H5FD_family_fapl_t*)_fa; + H5Pclose(fa->memb_fapl_id); + free(fa); + return 0; +} +</PRE> + +<P> +Generally when a file is created or opened the file access properties +for the driver are copied into the file pointer which is returned and +they may be modified from their original value (for instance, the file +family driver modifies the member size property when opening an existing +family). In order to support the <CODE>H5Fget_access_plist</CODE> function the +driver must provide a <CODE>fapl_get</CODE> callback which creates a copy of +the driver-specific properties based on a particular file. + +</P> +<P> +<STRONG>Example:</STRONG> The file family driver copies the member size file +access property list into the return value: + +</P> + +<PRE> +static void * +H5FD_family_fapl_get(H5FD_t *_file) +{ + H5FD_family_t *file = (H5FD_family_t*)_file; + H5FD_family_fapl_t *fa = calloc(1, sizeof(H5FD_family_fapl_t*)); + + fa->memb_size = file->memb_size; + fa->memb_fapl_id = H5Pcopy(file->memb_fapl_id); + return fa; +} +</PRE> + + + +<H2><A NAME="SEC9" HREF="VFL.html#TOC9">File Functions</A></H2> + +<P> +The higher layers of the library expect files to have a name and allow the +file to be accessed in various modes. The driver must be able to create a new +file, replace an existing file, or open an existing file. Opening or creating +a file should return a handle, a pointer to a specialization of the +<CODE>H5FD_t</CODE> struct, which allows read-only or read-write access and which +will be passed to the other driver functions as they are +called.<A NAME="DOCF5" HREF="VFL.html#FOOT5">(5)</A> + +</P> + +<PRE> +typedef struct { + /* Public fields */ + H5FD_class_t *cls; /*class data defined below*/ + + /* Private fields -- driver-defined */ + +} H5FD_t; +</PRE> + +<P> +<STRONG>Example:</STRONG> The family driver requires handles to the underlying +storage, the size of the members for this particular file (which might be +different than the member size specified in the file access property list if +an existing file family is being opened), the name used to open the file in +case additional members must be created, and the flags to use for creating +those additional members. The <CODE>eoa</CODE> member caches the size of the format +address space so the family members don't have to be queried in order to find +it. + +</P> + +<PRE> +/* The description of a file belonging to this driver. */ +typedef struct H5FD_family_t { + H5FD_t pub; /*public stuff, must be first */ + hid_t memb_fapl_id; /*file access property list for members */ + hsize_t memb_size; /*maximum size of each member file */ + int nmembs; /*number of family members */ + int amembs; /*number of member slots allocated */ + H5FD_t **memb; /*dynamic array of member pointers */ + haddr_t eoa; /*end of allocated addresses */ + char *name; /*name generator printf format */ + unsigned flags; /*flags for opening additional members */ +} H5FD_family_t; +</PRE> + +<P> +<STRONG>Example:</STRONG> The sec2 driver needs to keep track of the underlying Unix +file descriptor and also the end of format address space and current Unix file +size. It also keeps track of the current file position and last operation +(read, write, or unknown) in order to optimize calls to <CODE>lseek</CODE>. The +<CODE>device</CODE> and <CODE>inode</CODE> fields are defined on Unix in order to uniquely +identify the file and will be discussed below. + +</P> + +<PRE> +typedef struct H5FD_sec2_t { + H5FD_t pub; /*public stuff, must be first */ + int fd; /*the unix file */ + haddr_t eoa; /*end of allocated region */ + haddr_t eof; /*end of file; current file size*/ + haddr_t pos; /*current file I/O position */ + int op; /*last operation */ + dev_t device; /*file device number */ + ino_t inode; /*file i-node number */ +} H5FD_sec2_t; +</PRE> + + + +<H3><A NAME="SEC10" HREF="VFL.html#TOC10">Opening Files</A></H3> + +<P> +All drivers must define a function for opening/creating a file. This +function should have a prototype which is: + +</P> +<P> +<DL> +<DT><U>Function:</U> static H5FD_t * <B>open</B> <I>(const char *<VAR>name</VAR>, unsigned <VAR>flags</VAR>, hid_t <VAR>fapl</VAR>, haddr_t <VAR>maxaddr</VAR>)</I> +<DD><A NAME="IDX1"></A> + +</P> +<P> +The file name <VAR>name</VAR> and file access property list <VAR>fapl</VAR> are +the same as were specified in the <CODE>H5Fcreate</CODE> or <CODE>H5Fopen</CODE> +call. The <VAR>flags</VAR> are the same as in those calls also except the +flag <CODE>H5F_ACC_CREATE</CODE> is also present if the call was to +<CODE>H5Fcreate</CODE> and they are documented in the <TT>`H5Fpublic.h'</TT> +file. The <VAR>maxaddr</VAR> argument is the maximum format address that the +driver should be prepared to handle (the minimum address is always +zero). +</DL> + +</P> +<P> +<STRONG>Example:</STRONG> The sec2 driver opens a Unix file with the requested name +and saves information which uniquely identifies the file (the Unix device +number and inode). + +</P> + +<PRE> +static H5FD_t * +H5FD_sec2_open(const char *name, unsigned flags, hid_t fapl_id/*unused*/, + haddr_t maxaddr) +{ + unsigned o_flags; + int fd; + struct stat sb; + H5FD_sec2_t *file=NULL; + + /* Check arguments */ + if (!name || !*name) return NULL; + if (0==maxaddr || HADDR_UNDEF==maxaddr) return NULL; + if (ADDR_OVERFLOW(maxaddr)) return NULL; + + /* Build the open flags */ + o_flags = (H5F_ACC_RDWR & flags) ? O_RDWR : O_RDONLY; + if (H5F_ACC_TRUNC & flags) o_flags |= O_TRUNC; + if (H5F_ACC_CREAT & flags) o_flags |= O_CREAT; + if (H5F_ACC_EXCL & flags) o_flags |= O_EXCL; + + /* Open the file */ + if ((fd=open(name, o_flags, 0666))<0) return NULL; + if (fstat(fd, &sb)<0) { + close(fd); + return NULL; + } + + /* Create the new file struct */ + file = calloc(1, sizeof(H5FD_sec2_t)); + file->fd = fd; + file->eof = sb.st_size; + file->pos = HADDR_UNDEF; + file->op = OP_UNKNOWN; + file->device = sb.st_dev; + file->inode = sb.st_ino; + + return (H5FD_t*)file; +} +</PRE> + + + +<H3><A NAME="SEC11" HREF="VFL.html#TOC11">Closing Files</A></H3> + +<P> +Closing a file simply means that all cached data should be flushed to the next +lower layer, the file should be closed at the next lower layer, and all +file-related data structures should be freed. All information needed by the +close function is already present in the file handle. + +</P> +<P> +<DL> +<DT><U>Function:</U> static herr_t <B>close</B> <I>(H5FD_t *<VAR>file</VAR>)</I> +<DD><A NAME="IDX2"></A> + +</P> +<P> +The <VAR>file</VAR> argument is the handle which was returned by the <CODE>open</CODE> +function, and the <CODE>close</CODE> should free only memory associated with the +driver-specific part of the handle (the public parts will have already been released by HDF5's virtual file layer). +</DL> + +</P> +<P> +<STRONG>Example:</STRONG> The sec2 driver just closes the underlying Unix file, +making sure that the actual file size is the same as that known to the +library by writing a zero to the last file position it hasn't been +written by some previous operation (which happens in the same code which +flushes the file contents and is shown below). + +</P> + +<PRE> +static herr_t +H5FD_sec2_close(H5FD_t *_file) +{ + H5FD_sec2_t *file = (H5FD_sec2_t*)_file; + + if (H5FD_sec2_flush(_file)<0) return -1; + if (close(file->fd)<0) return -1; + free(file); + return 0; +} +</PRE> + + + +<H3><A NAME="SEC12" HREF="VFL.html#TOC12">File Keys</A></H3> + +<P> +Occasionally an application will attempt to open a single file more than one +time in order to obtain multiple handles to the file. HDF5 allows the files to +share information<A NAME="DOCF6" HREF="VFL.html#FOOT6">(6)</A> but in order to +accomplish this HDF5 must be able to tell when two names refer to the same +file. It does this by associating a driver-defined key with each file opened +by a driver and comparing the key for an open request with the keys for all +other files currently open by the same driver. + +</P> +<P> +<DL> +<DT><U>Function:</U> const int <B>cmp</B> <I>(const H5FD_t *<VAR>f1</VAR>, const H5FD_t *<VAR>f2</VAR>)</I> +<DD><A NAME="IDX3"></A> + +</P> +<P> +The driver may provide a function which compares two files <VAR>f1</VAR> and +<VAR>f2</VAR> belonging to the same driver and returns a negative, positive, or +zero value <I>a la</I> the <CODE>strcmp</CODE> function.<A NAME="DOCF7" HREF="VFL.html#FOOT7">(7)</A> If this +function is not provided then HDF5 assumes that all calls to the <CODE>open</CODE> +callback return unique files regardless of the arguments and it is up to the +application to avoid doing this if that assumption is incorrect. +</DL> + +</P> +<P> +Each time a file is opened the library calls the <CODE>cmp</CODE> function to +compare that file with all other files currently open by the same driver and +if one of them matches (at most one can match) then the file which was just +opened is closed and the previously opened file is used instead. + +</P> +<P> +Opening a file twice with incompatible flags will result in failure. For +instance, opening a file with the truncate flag is a two step process which +first opens the file without truncation so keys can be compared, and if no +matching file is found already open then the file is closed and immediately +reopened with the truncation flag set (if a matching file is already open then +the truncating open will fail). + +</P> +<P> +<STRONG>Example:</STRONG> The sec2 driver uses the Unix device and i-node as the +key. They were initialized when the file was opened. + +</P> + +<PRE> +static int +H5FD_sec2_cmp(const H5FD_t *_f1, const H5FD_t *_f2) +{ + const H5FD_sec2_t *f1 = (const H5FD_sec2_t*)_f1; + const H5FD_sec2_t *f2 = (const H5FD_sec2_t*)_f2; + + if (f1->device < f2->device) return -1; + if (f1->device > f2->device) return 1; + + if (f1->inode < f2->inode) return -1; + if (f1->inode > f2->inode) return 1; + + return 0; +} +</PRE> + + + +<H3><A NAME="SEC13" HREF="VFL.html#TOC13">Saving Modes Across Opens</A></H3> + +<P> +Some drivers may also need to store certain information in the file superblock +in order to be able to reliably open the file at a later date. This is done by +three functions: one to determine how much space will be necessary to store +the information in the superblock, one to encode the information, and one to +decode the information. These functions are optional, but if any one is +defined then the other two must also be defined. + +</P> +<P> +<DL> +<DT><U>Function:</U> static hsize_t <B>sb_size</B> <I>(H5FD_t *<VAR>file</VAR>)</I> +<DD><A NAME="IDX4"></A> +<DT><U>Function:</U> static herr_t <B>sb_encode</B> <I>(H5FD_t *<VAR>file</VAR>, char *<VAR>name</VAR>, unsigned char *<VAR>buf</VAR>)</I> +<DD><A NAME="IDX5"></A> +<DT><U>Function:</U> static herr_t <B>sb_decode</B> <I>(H5FD_t *<VAR>file</VAR>, const char *<VAR>name</VAR>, const unsigned char *<VAR>buf</VAR>)</I> +<DD><A NAME="IDX6"></A> + +</P> +<P> +The <CODE>sb_size</CODE> function returns the number of bytes necessary to encode +information needed later if the file is reopened. The <CODE>sb_encode</CODE> +function encodes information from the file into buffer <VAR>buf</VAR> +allocated by the caller. It also writes an 8-character (plus null +termination) into the <CODE>name</CODE> argument, which should be a unique +identification for the driver. The <CODE>sb_decode</CODE> function looks at +the <VAR>name</VAR> + +</P> +<P> + decodes +data from the buffer <VAR>buf</VAR> and updates the <VAR>file</VAR> argument with the new information, +advancing <VAR>*p</VAR> in the process. +</DL> + +</P> +<P> +The part of this which is somewhat tricky is that the file must be readable +before the superblock information is decoded. File access modes fall outside +the scope of the HDF5 file format, but they are placed inside the boot block +for convenience.<A NAME="DOCF8" HREF="VFL.html#FOOT8">(8)</A> + +</P> +<P> +<STRONG>Example:</STRONG> <EM>To be written later.</EM> + +</P> + + +<H2><A NAME="SEC14" HREF="VFL.html#TOC14">Address Space Functions</A></H2> + +<P> +HDF5 does not assume that a file is a linear address space of bytes. Instead, +the library will call functions to allocate and free portions of the HDF5 +format address space, which in turn map onto functions in the file driver to +allocate and free portions of file address space. The library tells the file +driver how much format address space it wants to allocate and the driver +decides what format address to use and how that format address is mapped onto +the file address space. Usually the format address is chosen so that the file +address can be calculated in constant time for data I/O operations (which are +always specified by format addresses). + +</P> + + + +<H3><A NAME="SEC15" HREF="VFL.html#TOC15">Userblock and Superblock</A></H3> + +<P> +The HDF5 format allows an optional userblock to appear before the actual HDF5 +data in such a way that if the userblock is <STRONG>sucked out</STRONG> of the file and +everything remaining is shifted downward in the file address space, then the +file is still a valid HDF5 file. The userblock size can be zero or any +multiple of two greater than or equal to 512 and the file superblock begins +immediately after the userblock. + +</P> +<P> +HDF5 allocates space for the userblock and superblock by calling an +allocation function defined below, which must return a chunk of memory at +format address zero on the first call. + +</P> + + +<H3><A NAME="SEC16" HREF="VFL.html#TOC16">Allocation of Format Regions</A></H3> + +<P> +The library makes many types of allocation requests: + +</P> +<DL COMPACT> + +<DT><CODE>H5FD_MEM_SUPER</CODE> +<DD> +An allocation request for the userblock and/or superblock. +<DT><CODE>H5FD_MEM_BTREE</CODE> +<DD> +An allocation request for a node of a B-tree. +<DT><CODE>H5FD_MEM_DRAW</CODE> +<DD> +An allocation request for the raw data of a dataset. +<DT><CODE>H5FD_MEM_META</CODE> +<DD> +An allocation request for the raw data of a dataset which +the user has indicated will be relatively small. +<DT><CODE>H5FD_MEM_GROUP</CODE> +<DD> +An allocation request for a group leaf node (internal nodes of the group tree +are allocated as H5MF_BTREE). +<DT><CODE>H5FD_MEM_GHEAP</CODE> +<DD> +An allocation request for a global heap collection. Global heaps are used to +store certain types of references such as dataset region references. The set +of all global heap collections can become quite large. +<DT><CODE>H5FD_MEM_LHEAP</CODE> +<DD> +An allocation request for a local heap. Local heaps are used to store the +names which are members of a group. The combined size of all local heaps is a +function of the number of object names in the file. +<DT><CODE>H5FD_MEM_OHDR</CODE> +<DD> +An allocation request for (part of) an object header. Object headers are +relatively small and include meta information about objects (like the data +space and type of a dataset) and attributes. +</DL> + +<P> +When a chunk of memory is freed the library adds it to a free list and +allocation requests are satisfied from the free list before requesting memory +from the file driver. Each type of allocation request enumerated above has its +own free list, but the file driver can specify that certain object types can +share a free list. It does so by providing an array which maps a request type +to a free list. If any value of the map is <CODE>H5MF_DEFAULT</CODE> (zero) then the +object's own free list is used. The special value <CODE>H5MF_NOLIST</CODE> indicates +that the library should not attempt to maintain a free list for that +particular object type, instead calling the file driver each time an object of +that type is freed. + +</P> +<P> +Mappings predefined in the <TT>`H5FDpublic.h'</TT> file are: +<DL COMPACT> + +<DT><CODE>H5FD_FLMAP_SINGLE</CODE> +<DD> +All memory usage types are mapped to a single free list. +<DT><CODE>H5FD_FLMAP_DICHOTOMY</CODE> +<DD> +Memory usage is segregated into meta data and raw data for the purposes of +memory management. +<DT><CODE>H5FD_FLMAP_DEFAULT</CODE> +<DD> +Each memory usage type has its own free list. +</DL> + +<P> +<STRONG>Example:</STRONG> To make a map that manages object headers on one free list +and everything else on another free list one might initialize the map with the +following code: (the use of <CODE>H5FD_MEM_SUPER</CODE> is arbitrary) + +</P> + +<PRE> +H5FD_mem_t mt, map[H5FD_MEM_NTYPES]; + +for (mt=0; mt<H5FD_MEM_NTYPES; mt++) { + map[mt] = (H5FD_MEM_OHDR==mt) ? mt : H5FD_MEM_SUPER; +} +</PRE> + +<P> +If an allocation request cannot be satisfied from the free list then one of +two things happen. If the driver defines an allocation callback then it is +used to allocate space; otherwise new memory is allocated from the end of the +format address space by incrementing the end-of-address marker. + +</P> +<P> +<DL> +<DT><U>Function:</U> static haddr_t <B>alloc</B> <I>(H5FD_t *<VAR>file</VAR>, H5MF_type_t <VAR>type</VAR>, hsize_t <VAR>size</VAR>)</I> +<DD><A NAME="IDX7"></A> + +</P> +<P> +The <VAR>file</VAR> argument is the file from which space is to be allocated, +<VAR>type</VAR> is the type of memory being requested (from the list above) without +being mapped according to the freelist map and <VAR>size</VAR> is the number of +bytes being requested. The library is allowed to allocate large chunks of +storage and manage them in a layer above the file driver (although the current +library doesn't do that). The allocation function should return a format +address for the first byte allocated. The allocated region extends from that +address for <VAR>size</VAR> bytes. If the request cannot be honored then the +undefined address value is returned (<CODE>HADDR_UNDEF</CODE>). The first call to +this function for a file which has never had memory allocated <EM>must</EM> +return a format address of zero or <CODE>HADDR_UNDEF</CODE> since this is how the +library allocates space for the userblock and/or superblock. +</DL> + +</P> + +<P> +<STRONG>Example:</STRONG> <EM>To be written later.</EM> + +</P> + + +<H3><A NAME="SEC17" HREF="VFL.html#TOC17">Freeing Format Regions</A></H3> + +<P> +When the library is finished using a certain region of the format address +space it will return the space to the free list according to the type of +memory being freed and the free list map described above. If the free list has +been disabled for a particular memory usage type (according to the free list +map) and the driver defines a <CODE>free</CODE> callback then it will be +invoked. The <CODE>free</CODE> callback is also invoked for all entries on the free +list when the file is closed. + +</P> +<P> +<DL> +<DT><U>Function:</U> static herr_t <B>free</B> <I>(H5FD_t *<VAR>file</VAR>, H5MF_type_t <VAR>type</VAR>, haddr_t <VAR>addr</VAR>, hsize_t <VAR>size</VAR>)</I> +<DD><A NAME="IDX8"></A> + +</P> +<P> +The <VAR>file</VAR> argument is the file for which space is being freed; <VAR>type</VAR> +is the type of object being freed (from the list above) without being mapped +according to the freelist map; <VAR>addr</VAR> is the first format address to free; +and <VAR>size</VAR> is the size in bytes of the region being freed. The region +being freed may refer to just part of the region originally allocated and/or +may cross allocation boundaries provided all regions being freed have the same +usage type. However, the library will never attempt to free regions which have +already been freed or which have never been allocated. +</DL> + +</P> +<P> +A driver may choose to not define the <CODE>free</CODE> function, in which case +format addresses will be leaked. This isn't normally a huge problem since the +library contains a simple free list of its own and freeing parts of the format +address space is not a common occurrence. + +</P> +<P> +<STRONG>Example:</STRONG> <EM>To be written later.</EM> + +</P> + + +<H3><A NAME="SEC18" HREF="VFL.html#TOC18">Querying Address Range</A></H3> + +<P> +Each file driver must have some mechanism for setting and querying the end of +address, or <STRONG>EOA</STRONG>, marker. The EOA marker is the first format address +after the last format address ever allocated. If the last part of the +allocated address range is freed then the driver may optionally decrease the +eoa marker. + +</P> +<P> +<DL> +<DT><U>Function:</U> static haddr_t <B>get_eoa</B> <I>(H5FD_t *<VAR>file</VAR>)</I> +<DD><A NAME="IDX9"></A> + +</P> +<P> +This function returns the current value of the EOA marker for the specified +file. +</DL> + +</P> +<P> +<STRONG>Example:</STRONG> The sec2 driver just returns the current eoa marker value +which is cached in the file structure: + +</P> + +<PRE> +static haddr_t +H5FD_sec2_get_eoa(H5FD_t *_file) +{ + H5FD_sec2_t *file = (H5FD_sec2_t*)_file; + return file->eoa; +} +</PRE> + +<P> +The eoa marker is initially zero when a file is opened and the library may set +it to some other value shortly after the file is opened (after the superblock +is read and the saved eoa marker is determined) or when allocating additional +memory in the absence of an <CODE>alloc</CODE> callback (described above). + +</P> +<P> +<STRONG>Example:</STRONG> The sec2 driver simply caches the eoa marker in the file +structure and does not extend the underlying Unix file. When the file is +flushed or closed then the Unix file size is extended to match the eoa marker. + +</P> + +<PRE> +static herr_t +H5FD_sec2_set_eoa(H5FD_t *_file, haddr_t addr) +{ + H5FD_sec2_t *file = (H5FD_sec2_t*)_file; + file->eoa = addr; + return 0; +} +</PRE> + + + +<H2><A NAME="SEC19" HREF="VFL.html#TOC19">Data Functions</A></H2> + +<P> +These functions operate on data, transferring a region of the format address +space between memory and files. + +</P> + + + +<H3><A NAME="SEC20" HREF="VFL.html#TOC20">Contiguous I/O Functions</A></H3> + +<P> +A driver must specify two functions to transfer data from the library to the +file and vice versa. + +</P> +<P> +<DL> +<DT><U>Function:</U> static herr_t <B>read</B> <I>(H5FD_t *<VAR>file</VAR>, hid_t <VAR>dxpl</VAR>, haddr_t <VAR>addr</VAR>, hsize_t <VAR>size</VAR>, void *<VAR>buf</VAR>)</I> +<DD><A NAME="IDX10"></A> +<DT><U>Function:</U> static herr_t <B>write</B> <I>(H5FD_t *<VAR>file</VAR>, hid_t <VAR>dxpl</VAR>, haddr_t <VAR>addr</VAR>, hsize_t <VAR>size</VAR>, const void *<VAR>buf</VAR>)</I> +<DD><A NAME="IDX11"></A> + +</P> +<P> +The <CODE>read</CODE> function reads data from file <VAR>file</VAR> beginning at address +<VAR>addr</VAR> and continuing for <VAR>size</VAR> bytes into the buffer <VAR>buf</VAR> +supplied by the caller. The <CODE>write</CODE> function transfers data in the +opposite direction. Both functions take a data transfer property list +<VAR>dxpl</VAR> which indicates the fine points of how the data is to be +transferred and which comes directly from the <CODE>H5Dread</CODE> or +<CODE>H5Dwrite</CODE> function. +</DL> + +</P> +<P> +Both functions should return a negative value if they fail to transfer the +requested data, or non-negative if they succeed. The library will never +attempt to read from unallocated regions of the format address space. + +</P> +<P> +<STRONG>Example:</STRONG> The sec2 driver just makes system calls. It tries not to +call <CODE>lseek</CODE> if the current operation is the same as the previous +operation and the file position is correct. It also fills the output buffer +with zeros when reading between the current EOF and EOA markers and restarts +system calls which were interrupted. + +</P> + +<PRE> +static herr_t +H5FD_sec2_read(H5FD_t *_file, hid_t dxpl_id/*unused*/, haddr_t addr, + hsize_t size, void *buf/*out*/) +{ + H5FD_sec2_t *file = (H5FD_sec2_t*)_file; + ssize_t nbytes; + + assert(file && file->pub.cls); + assert(buf); + + /* Check for overflow conditions */ + if (REGION_OVERFLOW(addr, size)) return -1; + if (addr+size>file->eoa) return -1; + + /* Seek to the correct location */ + if ((addr!=file->pos || OP_READ!=file->op) && + file_seek(file->fd, (file_offset_t)addr, SEEK_SET)<0) { + file->pos = HADDR_UNDEF; + file->op = OP_UNKNOWN; + return -1; + } + + /* + * Read data, being careful of interrupted system calls, partial results, + * and the end of the file. + */ + while (size>0) { + do nbytes = read(file->fd, buf, size); + while (-1==nbytes && EINTR==errno); + if (-1==nbytes) { + /* error */ + file->pos = HADDR_UNDEF; + file->op = OP_UNKNOWN; + return -1; + } + if (0==nbytes) { + /* end of file but not end of format address space */ + memset(buf, 0, size); + size = 0; + } + assert(nbytes>=0); + assert((hsize_t)nbytes<=size); + size -= (hsize_t)nbytes; + addr += (haddr_t)nbytes; + buf = (char*)buf + nbytes; + } + + /* Update current position */ + file->pos = addr; + file->op = OP_READ; + return 0; +} +</PRE> + +<P> +<STRONG>Example:</STRONG> The sec2 <CODE>write</CODE> callback is similar except it updates +the file EOF marker when extending the file. + +</P> + + +<H3><A NAME="SEC21" HREF="VFL.html#TOC21">Flushing Cached Data</A></H3> + +<P> +Some drivers may desire to cache data in memory in order to make larger I/O +requests to the underlying file and thus improving bandwidth. Such drivers +should register a cache flushing function so that the library can insure that +data has been flushed out of the drivers in response to the application +calling <CODE>H5Fflush</CODE>. + +</P> +<P> +<DL> +<DT><U>Function:</U> static herr_t <B>flush</B> <I>(H5FD_t *<VAR>file</VAR>)</I> +<DD><A NAME="IDX12"></A> + +</P> +<P> +Flush all data for file <VAR>file</VAR> to storage. +</DL> + +</P> +<P> +<STRONG>Example:</STRONG> The sec2 driver doesn't cache any data but it also doesn't +extend the Unix file as agressively as it should. Therefore, when finalizing a +file it should write a zero to the last byte of the allocated region so that +when reopening the file later the EOF marker will be at least as large as the +EOA marker saved in the superblock (otherwise HDF5 will refuse to open the +file, claiming that the data appears to be truncated). + +</P> + +<PRE> +static herr_t +H5FD_sec2_flush(H5FD_t *_file) +{ + H5FD_sec2_t *file = (H5FD_sec2_t*)_file; + + if (file->eoa>file->eof) { + if (-1==file_seek(file->fd, file->eoa-1, SEEK_SET)) return -1; + if (write(file->fd, "", 1)!=1) return -1; + file->eof = file->eoa; + file->pos = file->eoa; + file->op = OP_WRITE; + } + + return 0; +} +</PRE> + + + +<H2><A NAME="SEC22" HREF="VFL.html#TOC22">Registration of a Driver</A></H2> + +<P> +Before a driver can be used the HDF5 library needs to be told of its +existence. This is done by registering the driver, which results in a driver +identification number. Instead of passing many arguments to the registration +function, the driver information is entered into a structure and the address +of the structure is passed to the registration function where it is +copied. This allows the HDF5 API to be extended while providing backward +compatibility at the source level. + +</P> +<P> +<DL> +<DT><U>Function:</U> hid_t <B>H5FDregister</B> <I>(H5FD_class_t *<VAR>cls</VAR>)</I> +<DD><A NAME="IDX13"></A> + +</P> +<P> +The driver described by struct <VAR>cls</VAR> is registered with the library and an +ID number for the driver is returned. +</DL> + +</P> +<P> +The <CODE>H5FD_class_t</CODE> type is a struct with the following fields: + +</P> +<DL COMPACT> + +<DT><CODE>const char *name</CODE> +<DD> +A pointer to a constant, null-terminated driver name to be used for debugging +purposes. +<DT><CODE>size_t fapl_size</CODE> +<DD> +The size in bytes of the file access mode structure or zero if the driver +supplies a copy function or doesn't define the structure. +<DT><CODE>void *(*fapl_copy)(const void *fapl)</CODE> +<DD> +An optional function which copies a driver-defined file access mode structure. +This field takes precedence over <CODE>fm_size</CODE> when both are defined. +<DT><CODE>void (*fapl_free)(void *fapl)</CODE> +<DD> +An optional function to free the driver-defined file access mode structure. If +null, then the library calls the C <CODE>free</CODE> function to free the +structure. +<DT><CODE>size_t dxpl_size</CODE> +<DD> +The size in bytes of the data transfer mode structure or zero if the driver +supplies a copy function or doesn't define the structure. +<DT><CODE>void *(*dxpl_copy)(const void *dxpl)</CODE> +<DD> +An optional function which copies a driver-defined data transfer mode +structure. This field takes precedence over <CODE>xm_size</CODE> when both are +defined. +<DT><CODE>void (*dxpl_free)(void *dxpl)</CODE> +<DD> +An optional function to free the driver-defined data transfer mode +structure. If null, then the library calls the C <CODE>free</CODE> function to +free the structure. +<DT><CODE>H5FD_t *(*open)(const char *name, unsigned flags, hid_t fapl, haddr_t maxaddr)</CODE> +<DD> +The function which opens or creates a new file. +<DT><CODE>herr_t (*close)(H5FD_t *file)</CODE> +<DD> +The function which ends access to a file. +<DT><CODE>int (*cmp)(const H5FD_t *f1, const H5FD_t *f2)</CODE> +<DD> +An optional function to determine whether two open files have the same key. If +this function is not present then the library assumes that two files will +never be the same. +<DT><CODE>haddr_t (*alloc)(H5FD_t *file, H5FD_mem_t type, hsize_t size)</CODE> +<DD> +An optional function to allocate space in the file. +<DT><CODE>herr_t (*free)(H5FD_t *file, H5FD_mem_t type, haddr_t addr, hsize_t size)</CODE> +<DD> +An optional function to free space in the file. +<DT><CODE>haddr_t (*get_eoa)(H5FD_t *file)</CODE> +<DD> +A function to query how much of the format address space has been allocated. +<DT><CODE>herr_t (*set_eoa)(H5FD_t *file, haddr_t)</CODE> +<DD> +A function to set the end of address space. +<DT><CODE>haddr_t (*get_eof)(H5FD_t *file)</CODE> +<DD> +A function to return the current end-of-file marker value. +<DT><CODE>herr_t (*read)(H5FD_t *file, hid_t dxpl, haddr_t addr, hsize_t size, void *buffer)</CODE> +<DD> +A function to read data from a file. +<DT><CODE>herr_t (*write)(H5FD_t *file, hid_t dxpl, haddr_t addr, hsize_t size, const void *buffer)</CODE> +<DD> +A function to write data to a file. +<DT><CODE>herr_t (*flush)(H5FD_t *file)</CODE> +<DD> +A function which flushes cached data to the file. +<DT><CODE>H5FD_mem_t fl_map[H5FD_MEM_NTYPES]</CODE> +<DD> +An array which maps a file allocation request type to a free list. +</DL> + +<P> +<STRONG>Example:</STRONG> The sec2 driver would be registered as: + +</P> + +<PRE> +static const H5FD_class_t H5FD_sec2_g = { + "sec2", /*name */ + MAXADDR, /*maxaddr */ + NULL, /*sb_size */ + NULL, /*sb_encode */ + NULL, /*sb_decode */ + 0, /*fapl_size */ + NULL, /*fapl_get */ + NULL, /*fapl_copy */ + NULL, /*fapl_free */ + 0, /*dxpl_size */ + NULL, /*dxpl_copy */ + NULL, /*dxpl_free */ + H5FD_sec2_open, /*open */ + H5FD_sec2_close, /*close */ + H5FD_sec2_cmp, /*cmp */ + NULL, /*alloc */ + NULL, /*free */ + H5FD_sec2_get_eoa, /*get_eoa */ + H5FD_sec2_set_eoa, /*set_eoa */ + H5FD_sec2_get_eof, /*get_eof */ + H5FD_sec2_read, /*read */ + H5FD_sec2_write, /*write */ + H5FD_sec2_flush, /*flush */ + H5FD_FLMAP_SINGLE, /*fl_map */ +}; + +hid_t +H5FD_sec2_init(void) +{ + if (!H5FD_SEC2_g) { + H5FD_SEC2_g = H5FDregister(&H5FD_sec2_g); + } + return H5FD_SEC2_g; +} +</PRE> + +<P> +A driver can be removed from the library by unregistering it + +</P> +<P> +<DL> +<DT><U>Function:</U> herr_t <B>H5Dunregister</B> <I>(hid_t <VAR>driver</VAR>)</I> +<DD><A NAME="IDX14"></A> +Where <VAR>driver</VAR> is the ID number returned when the driver was registered. +</DL> + +</P> +<P> +Unregistering a driver makes it unusable for creating new file access or data +transfer property lists but doesn't affect any property lists or files that +already use that driver. + +</P> + + + +<H2><A NAME="SEC23" HREF="VFL.html#TOC23">Querying Driver Information</A></H2> + +<P> +<DL> +<DT><U>Function:</U> void * <B>H5Pget_driver_data</B> <I>(hid_t <VAR>fapl</VAR>)</I> +<DD><A NAME="IDX15"></A> +<DT><U>Function:</U> void * <B>H5Pget_driver_data</B> <I>(hid_t <VAR>fxpl</VAR>)</I> +<DD><A NAME="IDX16"></A> + +</P> +<P> +This function is intended to be used by driver functions, not applications. +It returns a pointer directly into the file access property list +<CODE><VAR>fapl</VAR></CODE> which is a copy of the driver's file access mode originally +provided to the <CODE>H5Pset_driver</CODE> function. If its argument is a data +transfer property list <CODE>fxpl</CODE> then it returns a pointer to the +driver-specific data transfer information instead. +</DL> + +</P> + + +<H1><A NAME="SEC24" HREF="VFL.html#TOC24">Miscellaneous</A></H1> + +<P> +The various private <CODE>H5F_low_*</CODE> functions will be replaced by public +<CODE>H5FD*</CODE> functions so they can be called from drivers. + +</P> +<P> +All private functions <CODE>H5F_addr_*</CODE> which operate on addresses will be +renamed as public functions by removing the first underscore so they can be +called by drivers. + +</P> +<P> +The <CODE>haddr_t</CODE> address data type will be passed by value throughout the +library. The original intent was that this type would eventually be a union of +file address types for the various drivers and may become quite large, but +that was back when drivers were part of HDF5. It will become an alias for an +unsigned integer type (32 or 64 bits depending on how the library was +configured). + +</P> +<P> +The various <CODE>H5F*.c</CODE> driver files will be renamed <CODE>H5FD*.c</CODE> and each +will have a corresponding header file. All driver functions except the +initializer and API will be declared static. + +</P> +<P> +This documentation didn't cover optimization functions which would be useful +to drivers like MPI-IO. Some drivers may be able to perform data pipeline +operations more efficiently than HDF5 and need to be given a chance to +override those parts of the pipeline. The pipeline would be designed to call +various H5FD optimization functions at various points which return one of +three values: the operation is not implemented by the driver, the operation is +implemented but failed in a non-recoverable manner, the operation is +implemented and succeeded. + +</P> +<P> +Various parts of HDF5 check the only the top-level file driver and do +something special if it is the MPI-IO driver. However, we might want to be +able to put the MPI-IO driver under other drivers such as the raw part of a +split driver or under a debug driver whose sole purpose is to accumulate +statistics as it passes all requests through to the MPI-IO driver. Therefore +we will probably need a function which takes a format address and or object +type and returns the driver which would have been used at the lowest level to +process the request. + +</P> + +<P><HR><P> +<H1>Footnotes</H1> +<H3><A NAME="FOOT1" HREF="VFL.html#DOCF1">(1)</A></H3> +<P>The driver name is by convention and might +not apply to drivers which are not distributed with HDF5. +<H3><A NAME="FOOT2" HREF="VFL.html#DOCF2">(2)</A></H3> +<P>The access method also indicates how to translate +the storage name to a storage server such as a file, network protocol, or +memory. +<H3><A NAME="FOOT3" HREF="VFL.html#DOCF3">(3)</A></H3> +<P>The term +"<EM>file</EM> access property list" is a misnomer since storage isn't +required to be a file. +<H3><A NAME="FOOT4" HREF="VFL.html#DOCF4">(4)</A></H3> +<P>This +function is overloaded to operate on data transfer property lists also, as +described below. +<H3><A NAME="FOOT5" HREF="VFL.html#DOCF5">(5)</A></H3> +<P>Read-only access is only appropriate when opening an existing +file. +<H3><A NAME="FOOT6" HREF="VFL.html#DOCF6">(6)</A></H3> +<P>For instance, writing data to one handle will cause +the data to be immediately visible on the other handle. +<H3><A NAME="FOOT7" HREF="VFL.html#DOCF7">(7)</A></H3> +<P>The ordering is +arbitrary as long as it's consistent within a particular file driver. +<H3><A NAME="FOOT8" HREF="VFL.html#DOCF8">(8)</A></H3> +<P>File access modes do not describe data, but rather +describe how the HDF5 format address space is mapped to the underlying +file(s). Thus, in general the mapping must be known before the file superblock +can be read. However, the user usually knows enough about the mapping for the +superblock to be readable and once the superblock is read the library can fill +in the missing parts of the mapping. +<P><HR><P> +This document was generated on 18 November 1999 using the +<A HREF="http://wwwcn.cern.ch/dci/texi2html/">texi2html</A> +translator version 1.51.</P> +</BODY> +</HTML> |