Hi,
I built a client server application (the first time):
TCP
client and server UNBLOCKING.

the application that I built was an indipendent project, and works just fine.

I now need to integrate it in my original workspace, in which computer A sends data for computer B that processes it and replies (big surprise)!!!

thus, I need to combine the client server code in the main loops of computes A, B.

Q1) how should I combine the server code in comp A, without causing the select() to block the application, as I need the server to do other things when no clients available?

Q1.1) should I solve the problem by creating a new thread that contains elect()? so it will not block computer A regular operation?

Q1.2) any other solutions?

Q2) just to understand the basic operation mechanism - when a client and server cooperate - are there different channels/ buffers from which client and server read/write data? i.e. does server have a buffer from which it is reading data and other one to which it is writing it? no chance for confusion?

thanks for your help

Select() has a timeout parameter. Simply set it to zero so the FD_SET will be properly set only if datas are available at the moment of the call. Otherwise the call will end and the sets will be empty.

Although this is about TCP/IP, it's really more of a programming question. Off to Linux - Programming!

Tigrebianca has suggested the best answer I can think of.