For SGI and Linux: Instr like Semaphore with a Setable Timeout

Hello,

I am looking for instructions that do what a mutual exclusive
semaphore does but with some specifiable timeout for SGI and Red
Hat Linux. (I.E.: A Semaphore with a count of 1 but with a timeout)

In other words, I want to know how to guard a critical piece of
code, but I don't want to be forced to wait a long time in a
queue. In other words, I have processes that could go on living
without entering the critical section of code.

Thank you,
Christopher Lusardi

re: For SGI and Linux: Instr like Semaphore with a Setable Timeout

clusardi2k@aol.com wrote:[color=blue]
> I am looking for instructions that do what a mutual exclusive
> semaphore does but with some specifiable timeout for SGI and Red
> Hat Linux. (I.E.: A Semaphore with a count of 1 but with a timeout)
>
> In other words, I want to know how to guard a critical piece of
> code, but I don't want to be forced to wait a long time in a
> queue. In other words, I have processes that could go on living
> without entering the critical section of code.[/color]

Is there a C++ language question hiding in here I am not seeing?
I am genuinely curious. Thanks.