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70<a name="system-1"></a>
71<h4 class="unnumberedsubsubsec">system</h4>
72<a name="index-system_002c-file_002di_002fo-system-call"></a>
73
74<dl compact="compact">
75<dt>Synopsis:</dt>
76<dd><div class="smallexample">
77<pre class="smallexample">int system(const char *command);
78</pre></div>
79
80</dd>
81<dt>Request:</dt>
82<dd><p>&lsquo;<samp>Fsystem,<var>commandptr</var>/<var>len</var></samp>&rsquo;
83</p>
84</dd>
85<dt>Return value:</dt>
86<dd><p>If <var>len</var> is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
87available.  A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
88For non-zero <var>len</var>, the value returned is -1 on error and the
89return status of the command otherwise.  Only the exit status of the
90command is returned, which is extracted from the host&rsquo;s <code>system</code>
91return value by calling <code>WEXITSTATUS(retval)</code>.  In case
92<samp>/bin/sh</samp> could not be executed, 127 is returned.
93</p>
94</dd>
95<dt>Errors:</dt>
96<dd>
97<dl compact="compact">
98<dt><code>EINTR</code></dt>
99<dd><p>The call was interrupted by the user.
100</p></dd>
101</dl>
102
103</dd>
104</dl>
105
106<p><small>GDB</small> takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
107to perform the <code>system</code> call.  The return value of <code>system</code> on
108the host is simplified before it&rsquo;s returned
109to the target.  Any termination signal information from the child process
110is discarded, and the return value consists
111entirely of the exit status of the called command.
112</p>
113<p>Due to security concerns, the <code>system</code> call is by default refused
114by <small>GDB</small>.  The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
115<code>set remote system-call-allowed 1</code> command.
116</p>
117<dl compact="compact">
118<dt><code>set remote system-call-allowed</code></dt>
119<dd><a name="index-set-remote-system_002dcall_002dallowed"></a>
120<p>Control whether to allow the <code>system</code> calls in the File I/O
121protocol for the remote target.  The default is zero (disabled).
122</p>
123</dd>
124<dt><code>show remote system-call-allowed</code></dt>
125<dd><a name="index-show-remote-system_002dcall_002dallowed"></a>
126<p>Show whether the <code>system</code> calls are allowed in the File I/O
127protocol.
128</p></dd>
129</dl>
130
131
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