NAME

       procServ - Process Server with Telnet Console and Log Access

SYNOPSIS

       procServ [OPTIONS] port command args...

DESCRIPTION

       procServ(1) creates a run time environment for a command (e.g. a soft IOC). It forks a server run as a
       daemon into the background, which creates a child process running command with all remaining args from
       the command line. The server provides console access (stdin/stdout) to the child process by offering a
       telnet connection at the specified port. For security reasons, by default access is restricted to
       connections from localhost (127.0.0.1), so that logging into a valid account on the host machine is
       required.

       procServ can be configured to write a console log of all in- and output of the child process into a file
       using the -L (--logfile) option. Sending the signal SIGHUP to the server will make it reopen the log
       file. To facilitate running under a central console access management (like conserver), the -l
       (--logport) option creates an additional telnet port, which is by default public (i.e. not restricted to
       localhost), and provides read-only log access to the child’s console. The -r (--restrict) option
       restricts the log port to localhost, similar to the access port.

       Both access and log ports allow multiple connections, which are handled transparently: all input from
       access connections is forwarded to the child process, all output from the child is forwarded to all
       access and log connections (and written to the log file). All diagnostic messages from the server process
       start with "@@@ " to be clearly distinguished from child process messages. A name specified by the -n
       (--name) option will replace the command string in many messages for increased readability.

       The server will by default automatically respawn the child process when it dies. To avoid spinning, a
       minimum time between child process restarts is honoured (default: 15 seconds, can be changed using the
       --holdoff option). This behaviour can be toggled online using the toggle command ^T, the default may be
       changed using the --noautorestart option. You can restart a running child manually by sending a signal to
       the child process using the kill command ^X. With the child process being shut down, the server accepts
       two commands: ^R or ^X to restart the child, and ^Q to quit the server. The -w (--wait) option starts the
       server in this shut down mode, waiting for a telnet connection to issue a manual start command to create
       the child.

       Any telnet connection (control or log) can be disconnected using the client’s disconnect sequence.
       Control connections can also be disconnected by sending the logout command character, that can be
       specified using the -x (--logoutcmd) option.

       To block input characters that are potentially dangerous to the child (e.g. ^D and ^C on soft IOCs), the
       -i (--ignore) option can be used to specify characters that are silently ignored when coming from a
       console access port.

       To facilitate being started and stopped as a standard system service, the -p (--pidfile) option tells the
       server to create a standard PID file containing the PID of the server process.

       The -d (--debug) option runs the server in debug mode: the daemon process stays in the foreground,
       printing all regular log content plus additional debug messages to stdout.

OPTIONS

       --allow
           Allow control connections from anywhere. (Default: restrict control access to localhost.) Creates a
           serious security hole, as telnet clients from anywhere can connect to the child’s stdin/stdout and
           execute arbitrary commands on the host, if the child permits. Needs to be enabled at compile-time
           (see Makefile). Please do not enable and use this option unless you exactly know why and what you are
           doing.

       --autorestartcmd=char
           Toggle auto restart flag when char is sent on an access connection. Use ^ to specify a control
           character, "" to disable. Default is ^T.

       --coresize=size
           Set the maximum size of core file. See getrlimit(2) documentation for details. Setting size to 0 will
           keep child from creating core files.

       -c, --chdir=dir
           Change directory to dir before starting child. This is done each time the child is started to make
           sure symbolic links are resolved on child restart.

       -d, --debug
           Enter debug mode. Debug mode will keep the server process in the foreground and enables diagnostic
           messages that will be sent to the controlling terminal.

       -e, --exec=file
           Run file as executable for child. Default is command.

       -f, --foreground
           Keep the server process in the foreground and connected to the controlling terminal.

       -h, --help
           Print help message.

       --holdoff=n
           Wait at least n seconds between child restart attempts. Default is 15 seconds.

       -i, --ignore=chars
           Ignore all characters in chars on access connections. This can be used to shield the child process
           from input characters that are potentially dangerous, e.g.  ^D and ^C characters that would shut down
           a soft IOC. Use ^ to specify control characters, ^^ to specify a single ^ character.

       -k, --killcmd=char
           Kill the child process (child will be restarted automatically by default) when char is sent on an
           access connection. Use ^ to specify a control character, "" for no kill command. Default is ^X.

       --killsig=signal
           Kill the child using signal when receiving the kill command. Default is 9 (SIGKILL).

       -l, --logport=port
           Provide read-only access to the child’s console on port. By default all hosts can connect to port,
           use the -r (--restrict) option to restrict access to localhost.

       -L, --logfile=file
           Write a console log of all in- and output to file.

       --logstamp[=fmt]
           Prefix lines in logs with a time stamp, setting the time stamp format string to fmt. Default is
           "[<timefmt>] ". (See --timefmt option.)

       -n, --name=title
           In all server messages, use title instead of the full command line to increase readability.

       --noautorestart
           Do not automatically restart child process on exit.

       -p, --pidfile=file
           Write the PID of the server process into file to facilitate integration into regular system service
           administration mechanisms.

       --timefmt=fmt
           Set the format string used to print time stamps to fmt. Default is "%c". (See strftime(3)
           documentation for details.)

       -q, --quiet
           Do not write informational output (server). Avoids cluttering the screen when run as part of a system
           script.

       --restrict
           Restrict log connections to localhost.

       -V, --version
           Print program version.

       -w, --wait
           Do not start the child immediately. Instead, wait for a telnet connection and a manual start command.

       -x, --logoutcmd=char
           Log out (close client connection) when char is sent on an access connection. Use ^ to specify a
           control character. Default is empty.

USAGE

       To start a soft IOC using procServ, change the directory into the IOC’s boot directory. A typical command
       line would be

               procServ -n "My SoftIOC" -i ^D^C 20000 ./st.cmd

       To connect to the IOC, log into the soft IOC’s host and connect to port 20000 using

               telnet localhost 20000

       To connect from a remote machine, ssh to a user account on procservhost and connect to port 20000 using

               ssh -t user@procservhost telnet localhost 20000

       You will be connected to the soft IOCs console and receive an informative welcome message. All output
       from the procServ server will start with "@@@" to allow telling it apart from messages that your IOC
       sends.

               > telnet localhost 20000
               Trying 127.0.0.1...
               Connected to localhost.
               Escape character is '^]'.
               @@@ Welcome to the procServ process server (procServ Version 2.1.0)
               @@@ Use ^X to kill the child, auto restart is ON, use ^T to toggle auto restart
               @@@ procServ server PID: 21413
               @@@ Startup directory: /projects/ctl/lange/epics/ioc/test314/iocBoot/iocexample
               @@@ Child "My SoftIOC" started as: ./st.cmd
               @@@ Child "My SoftIOC" PID: 21414
               @@@ procServ server started at: Fri Apr 25 16:43:00 2008
               @@@ Child "My SoftIOC" started at: Fri Apr 25 16:43:00 2008
               @@@ 0 user(s) and 0 logger(s) connected (plus you)

       Type the kill command character ^X to reboot the soft IOC and get server messages about this action.

       Type the telnet escape character ^] to get back to a telnet prompt then "quit" to exit telnet (and ssh
       when you were connecting remotely).

       Though procServ was originally intended to be an environment to run soft IOCs, any process might be
       started as child. It provides an environment for any program that requires access to its console, while
       running in the background as a daemon, and keeping a log by writing a file or through a console access
       and logging facility (such as conserver).

ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

       PROCSERV_PID
           Sets the file name to write the PID of the server process into. (See -p option.)

       PROCSERV_DEBUG
           If set, procServ starts in debug mode. (See -d option.)

KNOWN PROBLEMS

       None so far.

REPORTING BUGS

       Report bugs on the procServ Trac at http://sourceforge.net/apps/trac/procserv/ or to the authors.

AUTHORS

       Written by David H. Thompson <thompsondh@ornl.gov> and Ralph Lange <Ralph.Lange@gmx.de>.

RESOURCES

       SourceForge project: http://sourceforge.net/projects/procserv/

COPYING

       All copyrights reserved. Free use of this software is granted under the terms of the GNU General Public
       License (GPLv3).