subprocess (spawned by os.system) inherits open TCP/UDP/IP port

alf ask at me
Thu Jul 19 22:07:55 EDT 2007


Hi,

I need a help with explaining following behavior. Although it is not 
python issue per say, python helped me to write sample programs and 
originally I encountered the issue using python software. So let's 
assume we have two following programs:



[myhost] ~> cat ss.py
import socket
UDPSock=socket.socket(socket.AF_INET,socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
UDPSock.bind(("",12345))
import os
os.system('python cc.py')

[myhost] ~> cat cc.py
import time
time.sleep(2036)



then I start master one, do ctrl-Z and bg.

[myhost] ~> python ss.py

Suspended
[myhost] ~> bg
[1]    python ss.py &
[myhost] ~> ps
UID        PID  PPID  C STIME TTY          TIME CMD
myuser00  3192  3189  0 14:57 pts/0    00:00:00 -tcsh
myuser00  3247  3192  0 14:57 pts/0    00:00:00 python ss.py
myuser00  3248  3247  0 14:57 pts/0    00:00:00 python cc.py



[myhost] ~> netstat -uanp |grep 12345
(Not all processes could be identified, non-owned process info
  will not be shown, you would have to be root to see it all.)
udp        0      0 0.0.0.0:12345               0.0.0.0:* 
                 3247/python



As expected netstat indicates process 3247 having port allocated. Then I 
kill the master process and interestingly the child inherits the port open.


[myhost] ~> kill 3247
[myhost] ~> netstat -uanp | grep 12345
(Not all processes could be identified, non-owned process info
  will not be shown, you would have to be root to see it all.)
udp        0      0 0.0.0.0:12345               0.0.0.0:* 
                 3248/python
[1]  + Terminated                    python ss.py



Why it is happening? I know that os.system uses fork, but still this is 
something unexpected.


Thx, Alf






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