Implementation of a Concurrent Server Using fork()

In this assignment you will write a concurrent TCP server using fork(). The server will chose a random integer number between 1-100, and wait for the clients to send their guesses. Your server code should be able to run for different number of clients. (Your code should prompt the user to specify the number of clients on run-time.) As all clients send their guesses, the server finds out which one of the clients' guesses is -closest- to its own number. Finally, the server sends messages to each of the clients: a congratulations message to the winner client, and to other clients, a phrase indicating that they lost the competition.

Hints:

• First, try to understand how fork() works. Here is an overview of why child processes are necessary and how they are handled by the main process (the parent). This material is intended to give you an opinion of what you are asked to implemented for this lab.
• You will be dealing with integers again. Make sure you know how to use atoi() and sprintf() functions.
• The codes of the book [TCP/IP Sockets in C - Practical Guide for Programmers] are available through http://cs.ecs.baylor.edu/~donahoo/practical/CSockets/textcode.html. You can download the [TCPEchoServer-Fork.c (without SIGCHLD) ] code and use it as a template for the assignment.

     Below are some links that might be useful for those who would like to refresh their Operating Systems knowledge on the usage of fork():

• Unix Manual Page for fork()
• Unix Programming FAQ -- Process Control
• Network Programming with Sockets -- many links to various sites on socket programming.
• See the example on usage or fork() subroutine.
• See the example on fork().
• See some other examples on fork().