New API: part-to-dev: Convert partition name to device name.

[libguestfs.git] / src / guestfs.pod

diff --git a/src/guestfs.pod b/src/guestfs.pod
index 82fd7a1..de5e254 100644 (file)
--- a/src/guestfs.pod
+++ b/src/guestfs.pod
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ files.
 
 =head2 RUNNING COMMANDS
 
-Although libguestfs is a primarily an API for manipulating files
+Although libguestfs is primarily an API for manipulating files
 inside guest images, we also provide some limited facilities for
 running commands inside guests.
 
@@ -1109,24 +1109,21 @@ causes the state to transition back to CONFIG.
 Configuration commands for qemu such as L</guestfs_add_drive> can only
 be issued when in the CONFIG state.
 
-The high-level API offers two calls that go from CONFIG through
-LAUNCHING to READY.  L</guestfs_launch> blocks until the child process
-is READY to accept commands (or until some failure or timeout).
+The API offers one call that goes from CONFIG through LAUNCHING to
+READY.  L</guestfs_launch> blocks until the child process is READY to
+accept commands (or until some failure or timeout).
 L</guestfs_launch> internally moves the state from CONFIG to LAUNCHING
 while it is running.
 
-High-level API actions such as L</guestfs_mount> can only be issued
-when in the READY state.  These high-level API calls block waiting for
-the command to be carried out (ie. the state to transition to BUSY and
-then back to READY).  But using the low-level event API, you get
-non-blocking versions.  (But you can still only carry out one
-operation per handle at a time - that is a limitation of the
-communications protocol we use).
+API actions such as L</guestfs_mount> can only be issued when in the
+READY state.  These API calls block waiting for the command to be
+carried out (ie. the state to transition to BUSY and then back to
+READY).  There are no non-blocking versions, and no way to issue more
+than one command per handle at the same time.
 
 Finally, the child process sends asynchronous messages back to the
-main program, such as kernel log messages.  Mostly these are ignored
-by the high-level API, but using the low-level event API you can
-register to receive these messages.
+main program, such as kernel log messages.  You can register a
+callback to receive these messages.
 
 =head2 SETTING CALLBACKS TO HANDLE EVENTS
 
@@ -1525,10 +1522,23 @@ parameters, but with the roles of daemon and library reversed.
 
 =head3 INITIAL MESSAGE
 
-Because the underlying channel (QEmu -net channel) doesn't have any
-sort of connection control, when the daemon launches it sends an
-initial word (C<GUESTFS_LAUNCH_FLAG>) which indicates that the guest
-and daemon is alive.  This is what L</guestfs_launch> waits for.
+When the daemon launches it sends an initial word
+(C<GUESTFS_LAUNCH_FLAG>) which indicates that the guest and daemon is
+alive.  This is what L</guestfs_launch> waits for.
+
+=head3 PROGRESS NOTIFICATION MESSAGES
+
+The daemon may send progress notification messages at any time.  These
+are distinguished by the normal length word being replaced by
+C<GUESTFS_PROGRESS_FLAG>, followed by a fixed size progress message.
+
+The library turns them into progress callbacks (see
+C<guestfs_set_progress_callback>) if there is a callback registered,
+or discards them if not.
+
+The daemon self-limits the frequency of progress messages it sends
+(see C<daemon/proto.c:notify_progress>).  Not all calls generate
+progress messages.
 
 =head1 MULTIPLE HANDLES AND MULTIPLE THREADS
 
@@ -1539,6 +1549,9 @@ Only use the handle from a single thread.  Either use the handle
 exclusively from one thread, or provide your own mutex so that two
 threads cannot issue calls on the same handle at the same time.
 
+See the graphical program guestfs-browser for one possible
+architecture for multithreaded programs using libvirt and libguestfs.
+
 =head1 QEMU WRAPPERS
 
 If you want to compile your own qemu, run qemu from a non-standard