What Is rpcgen?

The rpcgen tool generates remote program interface modules. It compiles source code written in the RPC language. The RPC language is similar in syntax and structure to C. The rpcgen tool produces one or more C language source modules, which are then compiled by a C compiler.

The default output of rpcgen is:

• A header file of definitions common to the server and the client

• A set of XDR routines that translate each data type defined in the header file

• A stub program for the server

• A stub program for the client

rpcgen can optionally generate:

• Various transports

• A timeout for servers

• Server stubs that are multithread safe

• Server stubs that are not main programs

• C-style arguments passing ANSI C-compliant code

• An RPC dispatch table that checks authorizations and invokes service routines

rpcgen significantly reduces the development time that would otherwise be spent developing low-level routines. Handwritten routines link easily with the rpcgen output. For a discussion of RPC programming without rpcgen, see Chapter 4, Programmer's Interface to RPC.