Bugtraq: Re: MAGIC PIDs (was Re: magic??)

[neil () legless demon co uk (Neil Woods)]

> what, exactly, is a "MAGIC PID"?  is this a change in the priority/nice level?
> pid's, in general, are assigned on a rotary (more-or-less) basis.  has some
> kernel hack set aside a block of actual pids?  this seems odd.  so then,
> what is being changed in /dev/kmem?  priority?  nice?  pid?
MAGIC PIDS are conceptually the same, in many respects to uids - ie
the MAGIC UID is obviously 0.  Theres a bit more flexibility involved,
its possible to specify which tranche of pids have a magical quality.

Vendors will have to support MAGIC PIDS, for the forthcoming additions
to POSIX compliance.

Cheers,

Neil

-- 
Let the Mystery Be, So Watcha Want, Longing In Their Hearts, Hate My Way,
M-Bike, Safari, Uncle June and Aunt Kiyoti, Daisy Dead Petals, Tuff Gnarl.

     ...like a badger with an afro throwing sparklers at the Pope...