NAME

       amsshell - Asynchronous Message Service (AMS) test message sender (UNIX)

SYNOPSIS

       amsshell unit_name role_name application_name authority_name [{ p | s | q | a }]

DESCRIPTION

       amsshell is a message issuance program designed to test AMS functionality.

       When amsshell is started, it registers as an application module in the unit identified by
       unit_name of the venture identified by application_name and authority_name; the role in
       which it registers must be indicated in role_name.  A configuration server for the local
       continuum and a registrar for the indicated unit of the indicated venture (which may both
       be instantiated in a single amsd daemon task) must be running in order for amsshell to
       run.

       amsshell runs as two threads: a background thread that receives watches for AMS
       configuration events (including shutdown), together with a foreground thread that acquires
       operating parameters and message content in lines of console input to control the issuance
       of messages.

       The first character of each line of input from stdin to the amsshell indicates the
       significance of that line:

       =   Sets the name of the subject on which all messages are to be issued, until superseded
           by another "=" line.  The subject name must begin at the second character of this
           line.  Optionally, subject name may be followed by a single ' ' (space) character and
           then the text of the first message to be issued on this subject, which is to be issued
           immediately.

       r   Sets the number of the role constraining the domain of message issuance.  The role
           number must begin at the second character of this line.

       c   Sets the number of the continuum constraining the domain of message issuance.  The
           continuum number must begin at the second character of this line.

       u   Sets the number of the unit constraining the domain of message issuance.  The unit
           number must begin at the second character of this line.

       m   Sets the number of the module to which subsequent messages are to be issued.  The
           module number must begin at the second character of this line.

       .   Terminates amsshell.

       When the first character of a line of input from stdin is none of the above, the entire
       line is taken to be the text of a message that is to be issued immediately, on the
       previously specified subject, to the previously specified module (if applicable), and
       subject to the previously specified domain (if applicable).

       By default, amsshell runs in "publish" mode: when a message is to be issued, it is simply
       published.  This behavior can be overridden by providing a fifth command-line argument to
       amsshell - a "mode" indicator.  The supported modes are as follows:

       p   This is "publish" mode.  Every message is published.

       s   This is "send" mode.  Every message is sent privately to the application module
           identified by the specified module, unit, and continuum numbers.

       q   This is "query" mode.  Every message is sent privately to the application module
           identified by the specified module, unit, and continuum numbers, and amsshell then
           waits for a reply message before continuing.

       a   This is "announce" mode.  Every message is announced to all modules in the domain
           established by the previously specified role, unit, and continuum numbers.

EXIT STATUS

       -1  amsshell terminated with an error as noted in the ion.log file.

       "0" amsshell terminated normally.

FILES

       A MIB initialization file with the applicable default name (see amsrc(5)) must be present.

ENVIRONMENT

       No environment variables apply.

DIAGNOSTICS

       amsshell can't register.
           amsshell failed to register, for reasons noted in the ion.log file.

       amsshell can't set event manager.
           amsshell failed to start its background thread, for reasons noted in the ion.log file.

BUGS

       Report bugs to <ion-bugs@korgano.eecs.ohiou.edu>

SEE ALSO

       amslog(1), amsrc(5)