Mutex Constructor (Boolean, String, Boolean, MutexSecurity) (System.Threading)

Mutex Constructor (Boolean, String,...

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Microsoft Visual Studio 2005/.NET Framework 2.0

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.NET Framework Class Library

Mutex Constructor (Boolean, String, Boolean, MutexSecurity)

Note: This constructor is new in the .NET Framework version 2.0.

Initializes a new instance of the Mutex class with a Boolean value that indicates whether the calling thread should have initial ownership of the mutex, a string that is the name of the mutex, a Boolean variable that, when the method returns, indicates whether the calling thread was granted initial ownership of the mutex, and the access control security to be applied to the named mutex.

Namespace: System.Threading
Assembly: mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)

Syntax

Visual Basic (Declaration)

Public Sub New ( _
    initiallyOwned As Boolean, _
    name As String, _
    <OutAttribute> ByRef createdNew As Boolean, _
    mutexSecurity As MutexSecurity _
)

Visual Basic (Usage)

Dim initiallyOwned As Boolean
Dim name As String
Dim createdNew As Boolean
Dim mutexSecurity As MutexSecurity

Dim instance As New Mutex(initiallyOwned, name, createdNew, mutexSecurity)

public Mutex (
    bool initiallyOwned,
    string name,
    out bool createdNew,
    MutexSecurity mutexSecurity
)

C++

public:
Mutex (
    bool initiallyOwned, 
    String^ name, 
    [OutAttribute] bool% createdNew, 
    MutexSecurity^ mutexSecurity
)

public Mutex (
    boolean initiallyOwned, 
    String name, 
    /** @attribute OutAttribute() */ /** @ref */ boolean createdNew, 
    MutexSecurity mutexSecurity
)

JScript

public function Mutex (
    initiallyOwned : boolean, 
    name : String, 
    createdNew : boolean, 
    mutexSecurity : MutexSecurity
)

Parameters

initiallyOwned: true to give the calling thread initial ownership of the named system mutex if the named system mutex is created as a result of this call; otherwise, false.

name: The name of the system mutex. If the value is a null reference (Nothing in Visual Basic), the Mutex is unnamed.

createdNew: When this method returns, contains a Boolean that is true if the calling thread was granted initial ownership of the mutex; otherwise, false. This parameter is passed uninitialized.

mutexSecurity: A MutexSecurity object that represents the access control security to be applied to the named system mutex.

Exceptions

Exception type	Condition
IOException	A Win32 error occurred.
UnauthorizedAccessException	The named mutex exists and has access control security, but the user does not have MutexRights.FullControl.
ApplicationException	The named mutex cannot be created, perhaps because a wait handle of a different type has the same name.
ArgumentException	name is longer than 260 characters.

Remarks

If name is not a null reference (Nothing in Visual Basic) and initiallyOwned is true, the calling thread owns the named mutex only if createdNew is true after the call. Otherwise the thread can request the mutex by calling the WaitOne method.

Use this constructor to apply access control security to a named system mutex when it is created, preventing other code from taking control of the mutex.

This constructor initializes a Mutex object that represents a named system mutex. You can create multiple Mutex objects that represent the same named system mutex.

If the named system mutex does not exist, it is created with the specified access control security. If the named mutex exists, the specified access control security is ignored.

Note
The caller has full control over the newly created Mutex object even if mutexSecurity denies or fails to grant some access rights to the current user. However, if the current user attempts to get another Mutex object to represent the same named mutex, using either a constructor or the OpenExisting method, Windows access control security is applied.

If the named mutex has already been created with access control security, and the caller does not have MutexRights.FullControl, an exception is thrown. To open an existing named mutex with only those permissions needed for synchronizing thread activities, see the OpenExisting method.

If you specify a null reference (Nothing in Visual Basic) or an empty string for name, a local mutex is created, as if you had called the Mutex(Boolean) constructor. In this case, createdNew is always true.

Because they are system-wide, named mutexes can be used to coordinate resource use across process boundaries.

Example

The following code example demonstrates the cross-process behavior of a named mutex with access control security. The example uses the OpenExisting(String) method overload to test for the existence of a named mutex.

If the mutex does not exist, it is created with initial ownership and access control security that denies the current user the right to use the mutex, but grants the right to read and change permissions on the mutex.

If you run the compiled example from two command windows, the second copy will throw an access violation exception on the call to OpenExisting(String). The exception is caught, and the example uses the OpenExisting(String,MutexRights) method overload to open the mutex with the rights needed to read and change the permissions.

After the permissions are changed, the mutex is opened with the rights required to enter and release it. If you run the compiled example from a third command window, it runs using the new permissions.

Visual Basic

Imports System
Imports System.Threading
Imports System.Security.AccessControl

Friend Class Example

    <MTAThread> _
    Friend Shared Sub Main()
        Const mutexName As String = "MutexExample4"

        Dim m As Mutex = Nothing
        Dim doesNotExist as Boolean = False
        Dim unauthorized As Boolean = False

        ' The value of this variable is set by the mutex
        ' constructor. It is True if the named system mutex was
        ' created, and False if the named mutex already existed.
        '
        Dim mutexWasCreated As Boolean

        ' Attempt to open the named mutex.
        Try
            ' Open the mutex with (MutexRights.Synchronize Or
            ' MutexRights.Modify), to enter and release the
            ' named mutex.
            '
            m = Mutex.OpenExisting(mutexName)
        Catch ex As WaitHandleCannotBeOpenedException
            Console.WriteLine("Mutex does not exist.")
            doesNotExist = True
        Catch ex As UnauthorizedAccessException
            Console.WriteLine("Unauthorized access: {0}", ex.Message)
            unauthorized = True
        End Try

        ' There are three cases: (1) The mutex does not exist.
        ' (2) The mutex exists, but the current user doesn't 
        ' have access. (3) The mutex exists and the user has
        ' access.
        '
        If doesNotExist Then
            ' The mutex does not exist, so create it.

            ' Create an access control list (ACL) that denies the
            ' current user the right to enter or release the 
            ' mutex, but allows the right to read and change
            ' security information for the mutex.
            '
            Dim user As String = Environment.UserDomainName _ 
                & "\" & Environment.UserName
            Dim mSec As New MutexSecurity()

            Dim rule As New MutexAccessRule(user, _
                MutexRights.Synchronize Or MutexRights.Modify, _
                AccessControlType.Deny)
            mSec.AddAccessRule(rule)

            rule = New MutexAccessRule(user, _
                MutexRights.ReadPermissions Or _
                MutexRights.ChangePermissions, _
                AccessControlType.Allow)
            mSec.AddAccessRule(rule)

            ' Create a Mutex object that represents the system
            ' mutex named by the constant 'mutexName', with
            ' initial ownership for this thread, and with the
            ' specified security access. The Boolean value that 
            ' indicates creation of the underlying system object
            ' is placed in mutexWasCreated.
            '
            m = New Mutex(True, mutexName, mutexWasCreated, mSec)

            ' If the named system mutex was created, it can be
            ' used by the current instance of this program, even 
            ' though the current user is denied access. The current
            ' program owns the mutex. Otherwise, exit the program.
            ' 
            If mutexWasCreated Then
                Console.WriteLine("Created the mutex.")
            Else
                Console.WriteLine("Unable to create the mutex.")
                Return
            End If

        ElseIf unauthorized Then

            ' Open the mutex to read and change the access control
            ' security. The access control security defined above
            ' allows the current user to do this.
            '
            Try
                m = Mutex.OpenExisting(mutexName, _
                    MutexRights.ReadPermissions Or _
                    MutexRights.ChangePermissions)

                ' Get the current ACL. This requires 
                ' MutexRights.ReadPermissions.
                Dim mSec As MutexSecurity = m.GetAccessControl()
                
                Dim user As String = Environment.UserDomainName _ 
                    & "\" & Environment.UserName

                ' First, the rule that denied the current user 
                ' the right to enter and release the mutex must
                ' be removed.
                Dim rule As New MutexAccessRule(user, _
                    MutexRights.Synchronize Or MutexRights.Modify, _
                    AccessControlType.Deny)
                mSec.RemoveAccessRule(rule)

                ' Now grant the user the correct rights.
                ' 
                rule = New MutexAccessRule(user, _
                    MutexRights.Synchronize Or MutexRights.Modify, _
                    AccessControlType.Allow)
                mSec.AddAccessRule(rule)

                ' Update the ACL. This requires
                ' MutexRights.ChangePermissions.
                m.SetAccessControl(mSec)

                Console.WriteLine("Updated mutex security.")

                ' Open the mutex with (MutexRights.Synchronize 
                ' Or MutexRights.Modify), the rights required to
                ' enter and release the mutex.
                '
                m = Mutex.OpenExisting(mutexName)

            Catch ex As UnauthorizedAccessException
                Console.WriteLine("Unable to change permissions: {0}", _
                    ex.Message)
                Return
            End Try

        End If

        ' If this program created the mutex, it already owns
        ' the mutex.
        '
        If Not mutexWasCreated Then
            ' Enter the mutex, and hold it until the program
            ' exits.
            '
            Try
                Console.WriteLine("Wait for the mutex.")
                m.WaitOne()
                Console.WriteLine("Entered the mutex.")
            Catch ex As UnauthorizedAccessException
                Console.WriteLine("Unauthorized access: {0}", _
                    ex.Message)
            End Try
        End If

        Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to exit.")
        Console.ReadLine()
        m.ReleaseMutex()
    End Sub 
End Class

using System;
using System.Threading;
using System.Security.AccessControl;

internal class Example
{
    internal static void Main()
    {
        const string mutexName = "MutexExample4";

        Mutex m = null;
        bool doesNotExist = false;
        bool unauthorized = false;

        // The value of this variable is set by the mutex
        // constructor. It is true if the named system mutex was
        // created, and false if the named mutex already existed.
        //
        bool mutexWasCreated = false;

        // Attempt to open the named mutex.
        try
        {
            // Open the mutex with (MutexRights.Synchronize |
            // MutexRights.Modify), to enter and release the
            // named mutex.
            //
            m = Mutex.OpenExisting(mutexName);
        }
        catch(WaitHandleCannotBeOpenedException)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Mutex does not exist.");
            doesNotExist = true;
        }
        catch(UnauthorizedAccessException ex)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Unauthorized access: {0}", ex.Message);
            unauthorized = true;
        }

        // There are three cases: (1) The mutex does not exist.
        // (2) The mutex exists, but the current user doesn't 
        // have access. (3) The mutex exists and the user has
        // access.
        //
        if (doesNotExist)
        {
            // The mutex does not exist, so create it.

            // Create an access control list (ACL) that denies the
            // current user the right to enter or release the 
            // mutex, but allows the right to read and change
            // security information for the mutex.
            //
            string user = Environment.UserDomainName + "\\"
                + Environment.UserName;
            MutexSecurity mSec = new MutexSecurity();

            MutexAccessRule rule = new MutexAccessRule(user, 
                MutexRights.Synchronize | MutexRights.Modify, 
                AccessControlType.Deny);
            mSec.AddAccessRule(rule);

            rule = new MutexAccessRule(user, 
                MutexRights.ReadPermissions | MutexRights.ChangePermissions,
                AccessControlType.Allow);
            mSec.AddAccessRule(rule);

            // Create a Mutex object that represents the system
            // mutex named by the constant 'mutexName', with
            // initial ownership for this thread, and with the
            // specified security access. The Boolean value that 
            // indicates creation of the underlying system object
            // is placed in mutexWasCreated.
            //
            m = new Mutex(true, mutexName, out mutexWasCreated, mSec);

            // If the named system mutex was created, it can be
            // used by the current instance of this program, even 
            // though the current user is denied access. The current
            // program owns the mutex. Otherwise, exit the program.
            // 
            if (mutexWasCreated)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Created the mutex.");
            }
            else
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Unable to create the mutex.");
                return;
            }

        }
        else if (unauthorized)
        {
            // Open the mutex to read and change the access control
            // security. The access control security defined above
            // allows the current user to do this.
            //
            try
            {
                m = Mutex.OpenExisting(mutexName, 
                    MutexRights.ReadPermissions | MutexRights.ChangePermissions);

                // Get the current ACL. This requires 
                // MutexRights.ReadPermissions.
                MutexSecurity mSec = m.GetAccessControl();
                
                string user = Environment.UserDomainName + "\\"
                    + Environment.UserName;

                // First, the rule that denied the current user 
                // the right to enter and release the mutex must
                // be removed.
                MutexAccessRule rule = new MutexAccessRule(user, 
                     MutexRights.Synchronize | MutexRights.Modify,
                     AccessControlType.Deny);
                mSec.RemoveAccessRule(rule);

                // Now grant the user the correct rights.
                // 
                rule = new MutexAccessRule(user, 
                    MutexRights.Synchronize | MutexRights.Modify,
                    AccessControlType.Allow);
                mSec.AddAccessRule(rule);

                // Update the ACL. This requires
                // MutexRights.ChangePermissions.
                m.SetAccessControl(mSec);

                Console.WriteLine("Updated mutex security.");

                // Open the mutex with (MutexRights.Synchronize 
                // | MutexRights.Modify), the rights required to
                // enter and release the mutex.
                //
                m = Mutex.OpenExisting(mutexName);

            }
            catch(UnauthorizedAccessException ex)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Unable to change permissions: {0}",
                    ex.Message);
                return;
            }

        }

        // If this program created the mutex, it already owns
        // the mutex.
        //
        if (!mutexWasCreated)
        {
            // Enter the mutex, and hold it until the program
            // exits.
            //
            try
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Wait for the mutex.");
                m.WaitOne();
                Console.WriteLine("Entered the mutex.");
            }
            catch(UnauthorizedAccessException ex)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Unauthorized access: {0}", ex.Message);
            }
        }

        Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to exit.");
        Console.ReadLine();
        m.ReleaseMutex();
    }
}

C++

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Threading;
using namespace System::Security::AccessControl;
using namespace System::Security::Permissions;

public ref class Example
{
public:
   [SecurityPermissionAttribute(SecurityAction::Demand,Flags=SecurityPermissionFlag::UnmanagedCode)]
   static void Main()
   {
      String^ mutexName = L"MutexExample4";

      Mutex^ m = nullptr;
      bool doesNotExist = false;
      bool unauthorized = false;
      
      // The value of this variable is set by the mutex
      // constructor. It is true if the named system mutex was
      // created, and false if the named mutex already existed.
      //
      bool mutexWasCreated = false;

      // Attempt to open the named mutex.
      try
      {
         // Open the mutex with (MutexRights.Synchronize |
         // MutexRights.Modify), to enter and release the
         // named mutex.
         //
         m = Mutex::OpenExisting( mutexName );
      }
      catch ( WaitHandleCannotBeOpenedException^ ) 
      {
         Console::WriteLine( L"Mutex does not exist." );
         doesNotExist = true;
      }
      catch ( UnauthorizedAccessException^ ex ) 
      {
         Console::WriteLine( L"Unauthorized access: {0}", ex->Message );
         unauthorized = true;
      }

      // There are three cases: (1) The mutex does not exist.
      // (2) The mutex exists, but the current user doesn't
      // have access. (3) The mutex exists and the user has
      // access.
      //
      if ( doesNotExist )
      {
         // The mutex does not exist, so create it.
         // Create an access control list (ACL) that denies the
         // current user the right to enter or release the
         // mutex, but allows the right to read and change
         // security information for the mutex.
         //
         String^ user = String::Concat( Environment::UserDomainName, L"\\",
            Environment::UserName );
         MutexSecurity^ mSec = gcnew MutexSecurity;

         MutexAccessRule^ rule = gcnew MutexAccessRule( user,
            static_cast<MutexRights>(
               MutexRights::Synchronize |
               MutexRights::Modify),
            AccessControlType::Deny );
         mSec->AddAccessRule( rule );

         rule = gcnew MutexAccessRule( user,
            static_cast<MutexRights>(
               MutexRights::ReadPermissions |
                MutexRights::ChangePermissions),
            AccessControlType::Allow );
         mSec->AddAccessRule( rule );
         
         // Create a Mutex object that represents the system
         // mutex named by the constant 'mutexName', with
         // initial ownership for this thread, and with the
         // specified security access. The Boolean value that
         // indicates creation of the underlying system object
         // is placed in mutexWasCreated.
         //
         m = gcnew Mutex( true,mutexName, mutexWasCreated,mSec );
         
         // If the named system mutex was created, it can be
         // used by the current instance of this program, even
         // though the current user is denied access. The current
         // program owns the mutex. Otherwise, exit the program.
         //
         if ( mutexWasCreated )
         {
            Console::WriteLine( L"Created the mutex." );
         }
         else
         {
            Console::WriteLine( L"Unable to create the mutex." );
            return;
         }
      }
      else if ( unauthorized )
      {
         // Open the mutex to read and change the access control
         // security. The access control security defined above
         // allows the current user to do this.
         //
         try
         {
            m = Mutex::OpenExisting( mutexName,
               static_cast<MutexRights>(
                  MutexRights::ReadPermissions |
                  MutexRights::ChangePermissions) );
            
            // Get the current ACL. This requires
            // MutexRights.ReadPermissions.
            MutexSecurity^ mSec = m->GetAccessControl();

            String^ user = String::Concat( Environment::UserDomainName,
               L"\\", Environment::UserName );
            
            // First, the rule that denied the current user
            // the right to enter and release the mutex must
            // be removed.
            MutexAccessRule^ rule = gcnew MutexAccessRule( user,
               static_cast<MutexRights>(
                  MutexRights::Synchronize |
                  MutexRights::Modify),
               AccessControlType::Deny );
            mSec->RemoveAccessRule( rule );
            
            // Now grant the user the correct rights.
            //
            rule = gcnew MutexAccessRule( user,
               static_cast<MutexRights>(
                  MutexRights::Synchronize |
                  MutexRights::Modify),
               AccessControlType::Allow );
            mSec->AddAccessRule( rule );
            
            // Update the ACL. This requires
            // MutexRights.ChangePermissions.
            m->SetAccessControl( mSec );

            Console::WriteLine( L"Updated mutex security." );
            
            // Open the mutex with (MutexRights.Synchronize
            // | MutexRights.Modify), the rights required to
            // enter and release the mutex.
            //
            m = Mutex::OpenExisting( mutexName );
         }
         catch ( UnauthorizedAccessException^ ex ) 
         {
            Console::WriteLine(
               L"Unable to change permissions: {0}", ex->Message );
            return;
         }
      }
      
      // If this program created the mutex, it already owns
      // the mutex.
      //
      if ( !mutexWasCreated )
      {
         // Enter the mutex, and hold it until the program
         // exits.
         //
         try
         {
            Console::WriteLine( L"Wait for the mutex." );
            m->WaitOne();
            Console::WriteLine( L"Entered the mutex." );
         }
         catch ( UnauthorizedAccessException^ ex ) 
         {
            Console::WriteLine( L"Unauthorized access: {0}",
               ex->Message );
         }
      }

      Console::WriteLine( L"Press the Enter key to exit." );
      Console::ReadLine();
      m->ReleaseMutex();
   }
};

int main()
{
   Example::Main();
}

.NET Framework Security

SecurityPermissionAttribute for calling unmanaged code to create a named mutex. Associated enumeration: SecurityPermissionFlag.UnmanagedCode.

Platforms

Windows 98, Windows 2000 SP4, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Starter Edition

The .NET Framework does not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see System Requirements.

Version Information

.NET Framework

Supported in: 2.0

Reference

Mutex Class
Mutex Members
System.Threading Namespace

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