Read and write from Unix socket connection with Python

Question

I'm experimenting with Unix sockets using Python. I want to create a server that creates and binds to a socket, awaits for commands and sends a response.

The client would connect to the socket, send one command, print the response and close the connection.

This is what I'm doing server side:

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
import socket
import os, os.path
import time
from collections import deque    

if os.path.exists("/tmp/socket_test.s"):
  os.remove("/tmp/socket_test.s")    

server = socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
server.bind("/tmp/socket_test.s")
while True:
  server.listen(1)
  conn, addr = server.accept()
  datagram = conn.recv(1024)
  if datagram:
    tokens = datagram.strip().split()
    if tokens[0].lower() == "post":
      flist.append(tokens[1])
      conn.send(len(tokens) + "")
    else if tokens[0].lower() == "get":
      conn.send(tokens.popleft())
    else:
      conn.send("-1")
    conn.close()

But I get socket.error: [Errno 95] Operation not supported when trying to listen.

Do unix sockets support listening? Otherwise, what would be the right way for both reading and writing?

Any help appreciated :)

robbie · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-02 15:01:59Z

20

SOCK_DGRAM sockets don't listen, they just bind. Change the socket type to SOCK_STREAM and your listen() will work.

Check out PyMOTW Unix Domain Sockets (SOCK_STREAM) vs. PyMOTW User Datagram Client and Server (SOCK_DGRAM)

edited May 2, 2017 at 15:01

robbie

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answered Feb 16, 2017 at 2:06

pbuck

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Comments

Malan · Accepted Answer · 2019-05-21 14:57:50Z

8

#!/usr/bin/python

import socket
import os, os.path
import time
from collections import deque

if os.path.exists("/tmp/socket_test.s"):
  os.remove("/tmp/socket_test.s")

server = socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
server.bind("/tmp/socket_test.s")
while True:
  server.listen(1)
  conn, addr = server.accept()
  datagram = conn.recv(1024)
  if datagram:
    tokens = datagram.strip().split()
    if tokens[0].lower() == "post":
      flist.append(tokens[1])
      conn.send(len(tokens) + "")
    elif tokens[0].lower() == "get":
      conn.send(tokens.popleft())
    else:
      conn.send("-1")
    conn.close()

Fixed you else... and SOCK_DGRAM...

answered May 21, 2019 at 14:57

Malan

3383 silver badges4 bronze badges

Comments

yingshao xo · Accepted Answer · 2023-04-08 23:59:08Z

I have a way to farward af-unix socket to af-inet socket by using python:

    def _ip_port_forward_by_using_a_socket_file(self, socket_file_path: str, to_ip_port: str):
        """
        socket_file_path: string
            a socket file like /tmp/message.socket
        to_ip_port: string
            It is something like this: 127.0.0.1:22
        
        It is normally used to read wire socket from usb line, like '/dev/usb0'. 
        But you can also use it twice to forward data between two isolated container where file sharing is possible.
        """
        import socket
        import threading
        import os

        if (os.path.exists(socket_file_path)):
            os.remove(socket_file_path)

        def handle(buffer: Any, direction: Any, src_address: Any, src_port: Any, dst_address: Any, dst_port: Any):
            '''
            intercept the data flows between local port and the target port
            '''
            return buffer

        def transfer(src: Any, dst: Any, direction: Any):
            error = None
            try:
                src_address, src_port = src.getsockname()
                dst_address, dst_port = dst.getsockname()
            except Exception as e:
                error = True
                print(e)
            while True:
                try:
                    buffer = src.recv(4096)
                    if len(buffer) > 0:
                        if error == True:
                            dst.send(buffer)
                        else:
                            dst.send(handle(buffer, direction, src_address, src_port, dst_address, dst_port)) #type: ignore
                except Exception as e:
                    print("error: ", repr(e))
                    break
            src.close()
            dst.close()

        def server(socket_file_path: str, remote_host: Any, remote_port: Any):
            server_socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
            server_socket.setsockopt(socket.SOL_SOCKET, socket.SO_REUSEADDR, 1)
            server_socket.bind(socket_file_path)
            server_socket.listen(0x40)
            while True:
                src_socket, src_address = server_socket.accept()
                try:
                    dst_socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
                    dst_socket.connect((remote_host, remote_port))
                    s = threading.Thread(target=transfer, args=(dst_socket, src_socket, False))
                    r = threading.Thread(target=transfer, args=(src_socket, dst_socket, True))
                    s.start()
                    r.start()
                except Exception as e:
                    print("error: ", repr(e))

        to_ = to_ip_port.split(":")
        server(socket_file_path=socket_file_path, remote_host=to_[0], remote_port=int(to_[1]))

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