alarm(2)                                                           alarm(2)


   NAME
         alarm - set a process alarm clock

   SYNOPSIS
         #include <unistd.h>

         unsigned alarm(unsigned sec);

   DESCRIPTION
         alarm instructs the alarm clock of the calling process to send the
         signal SIGALRM to the calling process after the number of real time
         seconds specified by sec have elapsed [see signal(2)].

         Alarm requests are not stacked; successive calls reset the alarm
         clock of the calling process.

         If sec is 0, any previously made alarm request is canceled.

         fork sets the alarm clock of a new process to 0 [see fork(2)].  A
         process created by the exec family of routines inherits the time left
         on the old process's alarm clock.

   SEE ALSO
         fork(2), exec(2), pause(2), signal(2), sigset(2).

   DIAGNOSTICS
         alarm returns the amount of time previously remaining in the alarm
         clock of the calling process.

























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