Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!maserati!scotts
From: scotts@qsp.COM (Scott Simpers)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.sgi
Subject: Re: Problem with rn
Message-ID: <2003@maserati.qsp.UUCP>
Date: 16 May 91 20:28:24 GMT
References: <1991May16.031949.29942@syd.dms.CSIRO.AU>
Sender: news@qsp.COM
Organization: Quality Software Products, LA, CA
Lines: 29

In article <1991May16.031949.29942@syd.dms.CSIRO.AU> damc@dap.csiro.au (Don McCormick) writes:
>
>Reading of news articles using rn is not a problem, but if you try to
>reply to an article or save an article on some occasions you can drop
>out of rn with the error.
>
>	"Unexpected close of server socket"
>
>I have compiled rn and inews using the flag -D_BSD_COMPAT but still get the
>same intermittent problem.
>
>Does anyone have a solution to this problem?

I just recently ran across that problem. I was working with 'trn', but I'm
reasonably sure the problem is the same.

Here's the deal: When you try to save or reply, trn (and I assume rn) fork
another process to do the work.  This is done using vfork().  Unfortunately,
sgi vfork() doesn't work properly.  The sub-process closes all file 
descriptors it doesn't need (i.e. 3 up).  THIS CLOSES THEM IN THE PARENT TOO!
vfork() does not properly separate the client and server file descriptors.

The solution is to go into the configuration for 'rn' and tell it to use
fork(), not vfork().  

Scott Simpers
Quality Software Products                    voice: (213)410-0303
5711 W Slauson Avenue  Suite 240             fax: (213)410-0124
Culver City, CA  90230                       ...uunet!qsp!scotts