SYSEXITS(5)         UNIX Programmer's Manual          SYSEXITS(5)

NAME
     sysexits - standardized exit codes

SYNOPSIS
     #include <sysexits.h>

DESCRIPTION
     _S_y_s_e_x_i_t_s._h is an attempt to standardize interpretation of
     program exit codes.  The current exit codes, as they appear
     in the include file are:

     /*
     **  SYSEXITS.H -- Exit status codes for system programs.
     **
     **   This include file attempts to categorize possible error
     **   exit statuses for system programs, notably delivermail
     **   and the Berkeley network.
     **
     **   Error numbers begin at EX__BASE to reduce the possibility of
     **   clashing with other exit statuses that random programs may
     **   already return.  The meaning of the codes is approximately
     **   as follows:
     **
     **   EX_USAGE -- The command was used incorrectly, e.g., with
     **        the wrong number of arguments, a bad flag, a bad
     **        syntax in a parameter, or whatever.
     **   EX_DATAERR -- The input data was incorrect in some way.
     **        This should only be used for user's data & not
     **        system files.
     **   EX_NOINPUT -- An input file (not a system file) did not
     **        exist or was not readable.  This could also include
     **        errors like "No message" to a mailer (if it cared
     **        to catch it).
     **   EX_NOUSER -- The user specified did not exist.  This might
     **        be used for mail addresses or remote logins.
     **   EX_NOHOST -- The host specified did not exist.  This is used
     **        in mail addresses or network requests.
     **   EX_UNAVAILABLE -- A service is unavailable.  This can occur
     **        if a support program or file does not exist.  This
     **        can also be used as a catchall message when something
     **        you wanted to do doesn't work, but you don't know
     **        why.
     **   EX_SOFTWARE -- An internal software error has been detected.
     **        This should be limited to non-operating system related
     **        errors as possible.
     **   EX_OSERR -- An operating system error has been detected.
     **        This is intended to be used for such things as "cannot
     **        fork", "cannot create pipe", or the like.  It includes
     **        things like getuid returning a user that does not
     **        exist in the passwd file.
     **   EX_OSFILE -- Some system file (e.g., /etc/passwd, /etc/utmp,
     **        etc.) does not exist, cannot be opened, or has some

Printed 8/1/83                                                  1

SYSEXITS(5)         UNIX Programmer's Manual          SYSEXITS(5)

     **        sort of error (e.g., syntax error).
     **   EX_CANTCREAT -- A (user specified) output file cannot be
     **        created.
     **   EX_IOERR -- An error occurred while doing I/O on some file.
     **   EX_TEMPFAIL -- temporary failure, indicating something that
     **        is not really an error.  In sendmail, this means
     **        that a mailer (e.g.) could not create a connection,
     **        and the request should be reattempted later.
     **   EX_PROTOCOL -- the remote system returned something that
     **        was "not possible" during a protocol exchange.
     **   EX_NOPERM -- You did not have sufficient permission to
     **        perform the operation.  This is not intended for
     **        file system problems, which should use NOINPUT or
     **        CANTCREAT, but rather for higher level permissions.
     **        For example, kre uses this to restrict who students
     **        can send mail to.
     **
     **   Maintained by Eric Allman (eric@berkeley, ucbvax!eric) --
     **        please mail changes to me.
     **
     **             @(#)sysexits.h 4.2       7/31/83
     */

     # define EX_OK      0    /* successful termination */

     # define EX__BASE   64   /* base value for error messages */

     # define EX_USAGE   64   /* command line usage error */
     # define EX_DATAERR 65   /* data format error */
     # define EX_NOINPUT 66   /* cannot open input */
     # define EX_NOUSER  67   /* addressee unknown */
     # define EX_NOHOST  68   /* host name unknown */
     # define EX_UNAVAILABLE  69   /* service unavailable */
     # define EX_SOFTWARE     70   /* internal software error */
     # define EX_OSERR   71   /* system error (e.g., can't fork) */
     # define EX_OSFILE  72   /* critical OS file missing */
     # define EX_CANTCREAT    73   /* can't create (user) output file */
     # define EX_IOERR   74   /* input/output error */
     # define EX_TEMPFAIL     75   /* temp failure; user is invited to retry */
     # define EX_PROTOCOL     76   /* remote error in protocol */
     # define EX_NOPERM  77   /* permission denied */

SEE ALSO
     exit(2), delivermail(8)

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