NAME

       ares_library_init - c-ares library initialization

SYNOPSIS

       #include <ares.h>

       int ares_library_init(int flags)

       cc file.c -lcares

DESCRIPTION

       The  ares_library_init  function  performs initializations internally required by the c-ares library that
       must take place before any other function provided by c-ares can be used in a program.

       This function must be called at least once within the life of a  program,  before  the  program  actually
       executes any other c-ares library function.  Initializations done by this function remain effective until
       a number of calls to ares_library_cleanup(3) equal to the number of calls to this function are performed.

       Successive  calls  to  this  function  do  nothing further, only the first call done when c-ares is in an
       uninitialized state is actually effective.

       The flags parameter is a bit pattern that tells c-ares exactly which features should be  initialized,  as
       described  below.  Set  the  desired  bits  by  ORing the values together. In normal operation you should
       specify ARES_LIB_INIT_ALL. Don't use any other value unless you  are  familiar  with  it  and  trying  to
       control some internal c-ares feature.

       This  function  is not thread safe.  You have to call it once the program has started, but this call must
       be done before the program starts any other thread. This is required to avoid potential  race  conditions
       in  library  initialization, and also due to the fact that ares_library_init(3) might call functions from
       other libraries that are thread unsafe, and could conflict with any other thread that  is  already  using
       these other libraries.

       Win32/64  application  DLLs  shall not call ares_library_init(3) from the DllMain function. Doing so will
       produce deadlocks and other problems.

FLAGS

       ARES_LIB_INIT_ALL
            Initialize everything possible. This sets all known bits.

       ARES_LIB_INIT_WIN32
            Initialize Win32/64 specific libraries.

       ARES_LIB_INIT_NONE
            Initialize nothing extra. This sets no bit.

RETURN VALUE

       Upon successful completion, ares_library_init() will return 0.  Otherwise, a non-zero error  number  will
       be  returned  to  indicate  the  error.  Except for ares_strerror(3), you shall not call any other c-ares
       function upon ares_library_init(3) failure.

AVAILABILITY

       This function was first introduced in c-ares version 1.7.0 along  with  the  definition  of  preprocessor
       symbol  CARES_HAVE_ARES_LIBRARY_INIT as an indication of the availability of this function. Its recursive
       behavior, which requires a matching number of calls to ares_library_cleanup() in  order  to  deinitialize
       the  library,  is present since c-ares version 1.10.0. Earlier versions would deinitialize the library on
       the first call to ares_library_cleanup().

       Since the introduction of this function it is absolutely mandatory to call it for  any  Win32/64  program
       using c-ares.

       Non-Win32/64  systems  can still use c-ares version 1.7.0 without calling ares_library_init(3) due to the
       fact that currently it is nearly a do-nothing function on non-Win32/64 platforms at this point.

SEE ALSO

       ares_library_cleanup(3), ares_strerror(3)

AUTHOR

       Yang Tse

       Copyright 1998 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
       Copyright (C) 2004-2009 by Daniel Stenberg.

                                                   19 May 2009                              ARES_LIBRARY_INIT(3)