STREAMS

operating system A collection of system calls, kernel

resources, and kernel utility routines that can create, use,

and dismantle a stream. A "stream head" provides the

interface between the stream and the user processes. Its

principal function is to process STREAMS-related user system

calls. A "stream module" processes data that travel bewteen

the stream head and driver. The "stream end" provides the

services of an external input/output device or an internal

software driver. The internal software driver is commonly

called a pseudo-device driver.

The STREAMS concept has been formalised in Unix System V.

For example, SVR4 implements sockets and pipes using

STREAMS, resulting in pipe(2) openning bidirectional pipes.

[IBM AIX 3.2 Communication Programming Concepts, SC23-2206-03].

(1999-06-29)