BDFLUSH(2) Linux Programmer's Manual BDFLUSH(2)
NAME
bdflush - start, flush(8,n), or tune buffer-dirty-flush daemon
SYNOPSIS
int bdflush(int func, long *address);
int bdflush(int func, long data);
DESCRIPTION
bdflush starts, flushes, or tunes the buffer-dirty-flush daemon. Only
a privileged process (one with the CAP_SYS_ADMIN capability) may call
bdflush.
If func is negative or 0, and no daemon has been started, then bdflush
enters the daemon code and never returns.
If func is 1, some dirty buffers are written to disk.
If func is 2 or more and is even (low bit is 0), then address is the
address of a long word, and the tuning parameter numbered (func-2)/2 is
returned to the caller in(1,8) that address.
If func is 3 or more and is odd (low bit is 1), then data is a long
word, and the kernel sets tuning parameter numbered (func-3)/2 to that
value.
The set(7,n,1 builtins) of parameters, their values, and their legal ranges are defined
in(1,8) the kernel source file(1,n) fs/buffer.c.
RETURN VALUE
If func is negative or 0 and the daemon successfully starts, bdflush
never returns. Otherwise, the return value is 0 on success and -1 on
failure, with errno set(7,n,1 builtins) to indicate the error.
ERRORS
EBUSY An attempt was made to enter the daemon code after another
process has already entered.
EFAULT address points outside your accessible address space.
EINVAL An attempt was made to read(2,n,1 builtins) or write(1,2) an invalid parameter num-
ber, or to write(1,2) an invalid value to a parameter.
EPERM Caller does not have the CAP_SYS_ADMIN capability.
CONFORMING TO
bdflush is Linux specific and should not be used in(1,8) programs intended
to be portable.
SEE ALSO
fsync(2), sync(1,2,8)(2), sync(1,2,8)(8), update(7,n)(8)
Linux 2.6.7 2004-06-17 BDFLUSH(2)