H5P_SET_METADATA_READ_ATTEMPTS sets the number of reads that the library will try when reading checksummed metadata in an HDF5 file opened with SWMR access. When reading such metadata, the library will compare the checksum computed for the metadata just read with the checksum stored within the piece of checksum. When performing SWMR operations on a file, the checksum check might fail when the library reads data on a system that is not atomic. To remedy such situations, the library will repeatedly read the piece of metadata until the check passes or finally fails the read when the allowed number of attempts is reached.

The number of read attempts used by the library will depend on how the file is opened and whether the user sets the number of read attempts via this routine:

• For a file opened with SWMR access:
  • If the user sets the number of attempts to N, the library will use N.
  • If the user does not set the number of attempts, the library will use the default for SWMR access (100).
• For a file opened with non-SWMR access, the library will always use the default for non-SWMR access (1). The value set via this routine does not have any effect during non-SWMR access.

Returns a non-negative value if successful; otherwise returns a negative value.

Failure Modes:

When the user sets the number of read attempts to 0.

When the input property list is not a file access property list.

When the library is unable to set the number of read attempts in the file access property list.

The first example illustrates the case in setting the number of read attempts for a file opened with SWMR access.

    /* Create a copy of file access property list */
    fapl = H5Pcreate(H5P_FILE_ACCESS);

    /* Set the # of read attempts */
    H5Pset_metadata_read_attempts(fapl, 20);

    /* Open the file with SWMR access and the non-default file access property list */
    fid = H5Fopen(FILE, (H5F_ACC_RDONLY | H5F_ACC_SWMR_READ), fapl);

    /* Get the file's file access roperty list */
    file_fapl = H5Fget_access_plist(fid);

    /* Retrieve the # of read attempts from the file's file access property list */
    H5Pget_metadata_read_attempts(file_fapl, &attempts);

    /* 
     *	The value returned in "attempts" will be 20.
     *  The library will use 20 as the number of read attempts
     *  when reading checksummed metadata in the file 
     */

    /* Close the property list */
    H5Pclose(fapl);
    H5Pclose(file_fapl);

    /* Close the file */
    H5Fclose(fid);

The second example illustrates the case in setting the number of read attempts for a file opened with non-SWMR access. The value set in the file access property list does not have any effect.

 /* Create a copy of file access property list */
    fapl = H5Pcreate(H5P_FILE_ACCESS);

    /* Set the # of read attempts */
    H5Pset_metadata_read_attempts(fapl, 20);

    /* Open the file with SWMR access and the non-default file access property list */
    fid = H5Fopen(FILE, H5F_ACC_RDONLY, fapl);

    /* Get the file's file access roperty list */
    file_fapl = H5Fget_access_plist(fid);

    /* Retrieve the # of read attempts from the file's file access property list */
    H5Pget_metadata_read_attempts(file_fapl, &attempts);

    /* 
     *	The value returned in "attempts" will be 1 (default for non-SWMR access).
     *  The library will use 1 as the number of read attempts
     *  when reading checksummed metadata in the file 
     */

    /* Close the property lists */
    H5Pclose(fapl);
    H5Pclose(file_fapl);

    /* Close the file */
    H5Fclose(fid);