X-Git-Url: https://git.octo.it/?a=blobdiff_plain;f=src%2Fconfigfile.c;h=36b6dadcc846a98f20a0cb854341bacd6ea5c4ae;hb=edd0e2639a241167e213ec301bfc71c7d291ee61;hp=706e2d137968ad44e8796d078ef12b86cc26b5aa;hpb=b62e76ba5220c5279c29d970a65fa5a74dc1f145;p=collectd.git

diff --git a/src/configfile.c b/src/configfile.c
index 706e2d13..e162dd99 100644
--- a/src/configfile.c
+++ b/src/configfile.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /**
  * collectd - src/configfile.c
- * Copyright (C) 2005-2008  Florian octo Forster
+ * Copyright (C) 2005-2010  Florian octo Forster
  *
  * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
  * under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
  *
  * Authors:
  *   Florian octo Forster <octo at verplant.org>
+ *   Sebastian tokkee Harl <sh at tokkee.org>
  **/
 
 #include "collectd.h"
@@ -29,6 +30,11 @@
 #include "configfile.h"
 #include "types_list.h"
 #include "utils_threshold.h"
+#include "filter_chain.h"
+
+#if HAVE_WORDEXP_H
+# include <wordexp.h>
+#endif /* HAVE_WORDEXP_H */
 
 #define ESCAPE_NULL(str) ((str) == NULL ? "(null)" : (str))
 
@@ -69,7 +75,7 @@ typedef struct cf_global_option_s
  */
 static int dispatch_value_typesdb (const oconfig_item_t *ci);
 static int dispatch_value_plugindir (const oconfig_item_t *ci);
-static int dispatch_value_loadplugin (const oconfig_item_t *ci);
+static int dispatch_loadplugin (const oconfig_item_t *ci);
 
 /*
  * Private variables
@@ -81,7 +87,7 @@ static cf_value_map_t cf_value_map[] =
 {
 	{"TypesDB",    dispatch_value_typesdb},
 	{"PluginDir",  dispatch_value_plugindir},
-	{"LoadPlugin", dispatch_value_loadplugin}
+	{"LoadPlugin", dispatch_loadplugin}
 };
 static int cf_value_map_num = STATIC_ARRAY_LEN (cf_value_map);
 
@@ -90,9 +96,12 @@ static cf_global_option_t cf_global_options[] =
 	{"BaseDir",     NULL, PKGLOCALSTATEDIR},
 	{"PIDFile",     NULL, PIDFILE},
 	{"Hostname",    NULL, NULL},
-	{"FQDNLookup",  NULL, "false"},
+	{"FQDNLookup",  NULL, "true"},
 	{"Interval",    NULL, "10"},
-	{"ReadThreads", NULL, "5"}
+	{"ReadThreads", NULL, "5"},
+	{"Timeout",     NULL, "2"},
+	{"PreCacheChain",  NULL, "PreCache"},
+	{"PostCacheChain", NULL, "PostCache"}
 };
 static int cf_global_options_num = STATIC_ARRAY_LEN (cf_global_options);
 
@@ -150,7 +159,8 @@ static int cf_dispatch (const char *type, const char *orig_key,
 
 	for (i = 0; i < cf_cb->keys_num; i++)
 	{
-		if (strcasecmp (cf_cb->keys[i], key) == 0)
+		if ((cf_cb->keys[i] != NULL)
+				&& (strcasecmp (cf_cb->keys[i], key) == 0))
 		{
 			ret = (*cf_cb->callback) (key, value);
 			break;
@@ -163,7 +173,7 @@ static int cf_dispatch (const char *type, const char *orig_key,
 	free (key);
 	free (value);
 
-	DEBUG ("return (%i)", ret);
+	DEBUG ("cf_dispatch: return (%i)", ret);
 
 	return (ret);
 } /* int cf_dispatch */
@@ -177,8 +187,7 @@ static int dispatch_global_option (const oconfig_item_t *ci)
 	else if (ci->values[0].type == OCONFIG_TYPE_NUMBER)
 	{
 		char tmp[128];
-		snprintf (tmp, sizeof (tmp), "%lf", ci->values[0].value.number);
-		tmp[127] = '\0';
+		ssnprintf (tmp, sizeof (tmp), "%lf", ci->values[0].value.number);
 		return (global_option_set (ci->key, tmp));
 	}
 	else if (ci->values[0].type == OCONFIG_TYPE_BOOLEAN)
@@ -200,13 +209,18 @@ static int dispatch_value_typesdb (const oconfig_item_t *ci)
 
 	cf_default_typesdb = 0;
 
-	if (ci->values_num < 1)
+	if (ci->values_num < 1) {
+		ERROR ("configfile: `TypesDB' needs at least one argument.");
 		return (-1);
+	}
 
 	for (i = 0; i < ci->values_num; ++i)
 	{
-		if (OCONFIG_TYPE_STRING != ci->values[i].type)
+		if (OCONFIG_TYPE_STRING != ci->values[i].type) {
+			WARNING ("configfile: TypesDB: Skipping %i. argument which "
+					"is not a string.", i + 1);
 			continue;
+		}
 
 		read_types_list (ci->values[i].value.string);
 	}
@@ -226,8 +240,10 @@ static int dispatch_value_plugindir (const oconfig_item_t *ci)
 	return (0);
 }
 
-static int dispatch_value_loadplugin (const oconfig_item_t *ci)
+static int dispatch_loadplugin (const oconfig_item_t *ci)
 {
+	int i;
+	uint32_t flags = 0;
 	assert (strcasecmp (ci->key, "LoadPlugin") == 0);
 
 	if (ci->values_num != 1)
@@ -235,7 +251,19 @@ static int dispatch_value_loadplugin (const oconfig_item_t *ci)
 	if (ci->values[0].type != OCONFIG_TYPE_STRING)
 		return (-1);
 
-	return (plugin_load (ci->values[0].value.string));
+	for (i = 0; i < ci->children_num; ++i) {
+		if (ci->children[i].values_num != 1 ||
+				ci->children[i].values[0].type != OCONFIG_TYPE_BOOLEAN) {
+			WARNING("Ignoring unknown LoadPlugin option %s for plugin %s", ci->children[i].key, ci->values[0].value.string);
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (strcasecmp(ci->children[i].key, "globals") == 0) {
+			flags |= PLUGIN_FLAGS_GLOBAL;
+		} else {
+			WARNING("Ignoring unknown LoadPlugin option %s for plugin %s", ci->children[i].key, ci->values[0].value.string);
+		}
+	}
+	return (plugin_load (ci->values[0].value.string, flags));
 } /* int dispatch_value_loadplugin */
 
 static int dispatch_value_plugin (const char *plugin, oconfig_item_t *ci)
@@ -253,13 +281,13 @@ static int dispatch_value_plugin (const char *plugin, oconfig_item_t *ci)
 		int status = -1;
 
 		if (ci->values[i].type == OCONFIG_TYPE_STRING)
-			status = snprintf (buffer_ptr, buffer_free, " %s",
+			status = ssnprintf (buffer_ptr, buffer_free, " %s",
 					ci->values[i].value.string);
 		else if (ci->values[i].type == OCONFIG_TYPE_NUMBER)
-			status = snprintf (buffer_ptr, buffer_free, " %lf",
+			status = ssnprintf (buffer_ptr, buffer_free, " %lf",
 					ci->values[i].value.number);
 		else if (ci->values[i].type == OCONFIG_TYPE_BOOLEAN)
-			status = snprintf (buffer_ptr, buffer_free, " %s",
+			status = ssnprintf (buffer_ptr, buffer_free, " %s",
 					ci->values[i].value.boolean
 					? "true" : "false");
 
@@ -272,7 +300,7 @@ static int dispatch_value_plugin (const char *plugin, oconfig_item_t *ci)
 	buffer_ptr = buffer + 1;
 
 	return (cf_dispatch (plugin, ci->key, buffer_ptr));
-} /* int plugin_conf_dispatch */
+} /* int dispatch_value_plugin */
 
 static int dispatch_value (const oconfig_item_t *ci)
 {
@@ -323,7 +351,15 @@ static int dispatch_block_plugin (oconfig_item_t *ci)
 		if (ci->children[i].children == NULL)
 			dispatch_value_plugin (name, ci->children + i);
 		else
-			{DEBUG ("No nested config blocks allow for this plugin.");}
+		{
+			WARNING ("There is a `%s' block within the "
+					"configuration for the %s plugin. "
+					"The plugin either only expects "
+					"\"simple\" configuration statements "
+					"or wasn't loaded using `LoadPlugin'."
+					" Please check your configuration.",
+					ci->children[i].key, name);
+		}
 	}
 
 	return (0);
@@ -332,16 +368,121 @@ static int dispatch_block_plugin (oconfig_item_t *ci)
 
 static int dispatch_block (oconfig_item_t *ci)
 {
-	if (strcasecmp (ci->key, "Plugin") == 0)
+	if (strcasecmp (ci->key, "LoadPlugin") == 0)
+		return (dispatch_loadplugin (ci));
+	else if (strcasecmp (ci->key, "Plugin") == 0)
 		return (dispatch_block_plugin (ci));
 	else if (strcasecmp (ci->key, "Threshold") == 0)
 		return (ut_config (ci));
+	else if (strcasecmp (ci->key, "Chain") == 0)
+		return (fc_configure (ci));
 
 	return (0);
 }
 
+static int cf_ci_replace_child (oconfig_item_t *dst, oconfig_item_t *src,
+		int offset)
+{
+	oconfig_item_t *temp;
+	int i;
+
+	assert (offset >= 0);
+	assert (dst->children_num > offset);
+
+	/* Free the memory used by the replaced child. Usually that's the
+	 * `Include "blah"' statement. */
+	temp = dst->children + offset;
+	for (i = 0; i < temp->values_num; i++)
+	{
+		if (temp->values[i].type == OCONFIG_TYPE_STRING)
+		{
+			sfree (temp->values[i].value.string);
+		}
+	}
+	sfree (temp->values);
+	temp = NULL;
+
+	/* If (src->children_num == 0) the array size is decreased. If offset
+	 * is _not_ the last element, (offset < (dst->children_num - 1)), then
+	 * we need to move the trailing elements before resizing the array. */
+	if ((src->children_num == 0) && (offset < (dst->children_num - 1)))
+	{
+		int nmemb = dst->children_num - (offset + 1);
+		memmove (dst->children + offset, dst->children + offset + 1,
+				sizeof (oconfig_item_t) * nmemb);
+	}
+
+	/* Resize the memory containing the children to be big enough to hold
+	 * all children. */
+	temp = (oconfig_item_t *) realloc (dst->children,
+			sizeof (oconfig_item_t)
+			* (dst->children_num + src->children_num - 1));
+	if (temp == NULL)
+	{
+		ERROR ("configfile: realloc failed.");
+		return (-1);
+	}
+	dst->children = temp;
+
+	/* If there are children behind the include statement, and they have
+	 * not yet been moved because (src->children_num == 0), then move them
+	 * to the end of the list, so that the new children have room before
+	 * them. */
+	if ((src->children_num > 0)
+			&& ((dst->children_num - (offset + 1)) > 0))
+	{
+		int nmemb = dst->children_num - (offset + 1);
+		int old_offset = offset + 1;
+		int new_offset = offset + src->children_num;
+
+		memmove (dst->children + new_offset,
+				dst->children + old_offset,
+				sizeof (oconfig_item_t) * nmemb);
+	}
+
+	/* Last but not least: If there are new children, copy them to the
+	 * memory reserved for them. */
+	if (src->children_num > 0)
+	{
+		memcpy (dst->children + offset,
+				src->children,
+				sizeof (oconfig_item_t) * src->children_num);
+	}
+
+	/* Update the number of children. */
+	dst->children_num += (src->children_num - 1);
+
+	return (0);
+} /* int cf_ci_replace_child */
+
+static int cf_ci_append_children (oconfig_item_t *dst, oconfig_item_t *src)
+{
+	oconfig_item_t *temp;
+
+	if ((src == NULL) || (src->children_num == 0))
+		return (0);
+
+	temp = (oconfig_item_t *) realloc (dst->children,
+			sizeof (oconfig_item_t)
+			* (dst->children_num + src->children_num));
+	if (temp == NULL)
+	{
+		ERROR ("configfile: realloc failed.");
+		return (-1);
+	}
+	dst->children = temp;
+
+	memcpy (dst->children + dst->children_num,
+			src->children,
+			sizeof (oconfig_item_t)
+			* src->children_num);
+	dst->children_num += src->children_num;
+
+	return (0);
+} /* int cf_ci_append_children */
+
 #define CF_MAX_DEPTH 8
-static oconfig_item_t *cf_read_file (const char *file, int depth);
+static oconfig_item_t *cf_read_generic (const char *path, int depth);
 
 static int cf_include_all (oconfig_item_t *root, int depth)
 {
@@ -368,99 +509,269 @@ static int cf_include_all (oconfig_item_t *root, int depth)
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		new = cf_read_file (old->values[0].value.string, depth + 1);
+		new = cf_read_generic (old->values[0].value.string, depth + 1);
 		if (new == NULL)
 			continue;
 
-		/* There are more children now. We need to expand
-		 * root->children. */
-		if (new->children_num > 1)
+		/* Now replace the i'th child in `root' with `new'. */
+		cf_ci_replace_child (root, new, i);
+
+		/* ... and go back to the new i'th child. */
+		--i;
+
+		sfree (new->values);
+		sfree (new);
+	} /* for (i = 0; i < root->children_num; i++) */
+
+	return (0);
+} /* int cf_include_all */
+
+static oconfig_item_t *cf_read_file (const char *file, int depth)
+{
+	oconfig_item_t *root;
+
+	assert (depth < CF_MAX_DEPTH);
+
+	root = oconfig_parse_file (file);
+	if (root == NULL)
+	{
+		ERROR ("configfile: Cannot read file `%s'.", file);
+		return (NULL);
+	}
+
+	cf_include_all (root, depth);
+
+	return (root);
+} /* oconfig_item_t *cf_read_file */
+
+static int cf_compare_string (const void *p1, const void *p2)
+{
+	return strcmp (*(const char **) p1, *(const char **) p2);
+}
+
+static oconfig_item_t *cf_read_dir (const char *dir, int depth)
+{
+	oconfig_item_t *root = NULL;
+	DIR *dh;
+	struct dirent *de;
+	char **filenames = NULL;
+	int filenames_num = 0;
+	int status;
+	int i;
+
+	assert (depth < CF_MAX_DEPTH);
+
+	dh = opendir (dir);
+	if (dh == NULL)
+	{
+		char errbuf[1024];
+		ERROR ("configfile: opendir failed: %s",
+				sstrerror (errno, errbuf, sizeof (errbuf)));
+		return (NULL);
+	}
+
+	root = (oconfig_item_t *) malloc (sizeof (oconfig_item_t));
+	if (root == NULL)
+	{
+		ERROR ("configfile: malloc failed.");
+		return (NULL);
+	}
+	memset (root, 0, sizeof (oconfig_item_t));
+
+	while ((de = readdir (dh)) != NULL)
+	{
+		char   name[1024];
+		char **tmp;
+
+		if ((de->d_name[0] == '.') || (de->d_name[0] == 0))
+			continue;
+
+		status = ssnprintf (name, sizeof (name), "%s/%s",
+				dir, de->d_name);
+		if ((status < 0) || ((size_t) status >= sizeof (name)))
 		{
-			oconfig_item_t *temp;
-
-			DEBUG ("configfile: Resizing root-children from %i to %i elements.",
-					root->children_num,
-					root->children_num + new->children_num - 1);
-
-			temp = (oconfig_item_t *) realloc (root->children,
-					sizeof (oconfig_item_t)
-					* (root->children_num + new->children_num - 1));
-			if (temp == NULL)
-			{
-				ERROR ("configfile: realloc failed.");
-				oconfig_free (new);
-				continue;
-			}
-			root->children = temp;
+			ERROR ("configfile: Not including `%s/%s' because its"
+					" name is too long.",
+					dir, de->d_name);
+			for (i = 0; i < filenames_num; ++i)
+				free (filenames[i]);
+			free (filenames);
+			free (root);
+			return (NULL);
 		}
 
-		/* Clean up the old include directive while we still have a
-		 * valid pointer */
-		DEBUG ("configfile: Cleaning up `old'");
-		/* sfree (old->values[0].value.string); */
-		sfree (old->values);
-
-		/* If there are trailing children and the number of children
-		 * changes, we need to move the trailing ones either one to the
-		 * front or (new->num - 1) to the back */
-		if (((root->children_num - i) > 1)
-				&& (new->children_num != 1))
-		{
-			DEBUG ("configfile: Moving trailing children.");
-			memmove (root->children + i + new->children_num,
-					root->children + i + 1,
-					sizeof (oconfig_item_t)
-					* (root->children_num - (i + 1)));
+		++filenames_num;
+		tmp = (char **) realloc (filenames,
+				filenames_num * sizeof (*filenames));
+		if (tmp == NULL) {
+			ERROR ("configfile: realloc failed.");
+			for (i = 0; i < filenames_num - 1; ++i)
+				free (filenames[i]);
+			free (filenames);
+			free (root);
+			return (NULL);
 		}
+		filenames = tmp;
+
+		filenames[filenames_num - 1] = sstrdup (name);
+	}
+
+	qsort ((void *) filenames, filenames_num, sizeof (*filenames),
+			cf_compare_string);
 
-		/* Now copy the new children to where the include statement was */
-		if (new->children_num > 0)
+	for (i = 0; i < filenames_num; ++i)
+	{
+		oconfig_item_t *temp;
+		char *name = filenames[i];
+
+		temp = cf_read_generic (name, depth);
+		if (temp == NULL)
 		{
-			DEBUG ("configfile: Copying new children.");
-			memcpy (root->children + i,
-					new->children,
-					sizeof (oconfig_item_t)
-					* new->children_num);
+			/* An error should already have been reported. */
+			sfree (name);
+			continue;
 		}
 
-		/* Adjust the number of children and the position in the list. */
-		root->children_num = root->children_num + new->children_num - 1;
-		i = i + new->children_num - 1;
+		cf_ci_append_children (root, temp);
+		sfree (temp->children);
+		sfree (temp);
 
-		/* Clean up the `new' struct. We set `new->children' to NULL so
-		 * the stuff we've just copied pointers to isn't freed by
-		 * `oconfig_free' */
-		DEBUG ("configfile: Cleaning up `new'");
-		sfree (new->values); /* should be NULL anyway */
-		sfree (new);
-		new = NULL;
-	} /* for (i = 0; i < root->children_num; i++) */
+		free (name);
+	}
 
-	return (0);
-} /* int cf_include_all */
+	free(filenames);
+	return (root);
+} /* oconfig_item_t *cf_read_dir */
 
-static oconfig_item_t *cf_read_file (const char *file, int depth)
+/* 
+ * cf_read_generic
+ *
+ * Path is stat'ed and either cf_read_file or cf_read_dir is called
+ * accordingly.
+ *
+ * There are two versions of this function: If `wordexp' exists shell wildcards
+ * will be expanded and the function will include all matches found. If
+ * `wordexp' (or, more precisely, it's header file) is not available the
+ * simpler function is used which does not do any such expansion.
+ */
+#if HAVE_WORDEXP_H
+static oconfig_item_t *cf_read_generic (const char *path, int depth)
 {
-	oconfig_item_t *root;
+	oconfig_item_t *root = NULL;
+	int status;
+	const char *path_ptr;
+	wordexp_t we;
+	size_t i;
 
 	if (depth >= CF_MAX_DEPTH)
 	{
-		ERROR ("configfile: Not including `%s' because the maximum nesting depth has been reached.",
-				file);
+		ERROR ("configfile: Not including `%s' because the maximum "
+				"nesting depth has been reached.", path);
 		return (NULL);
 	}
 
-	root = oconfig_parse_file (file);
+	status = wordexp (path, &we, WRDE_NOCMD);
+	if (status != 0)
+	{
+		ERROR ("configfile: wordexp (%s) failed.", path);
+		return (NULL);
+	}
+
+	root = (oconfig_item_t *) malloc (sizeof (oconfig_item_t));
 	if (root == NULL)
 	{
-		ERROR ("configfile: Cannot read file `%s'.", file);
+		ERROR ("configfile: malloc failed.");
 		return (NULL);
 	}
+	memset (root, '\0', sizeof (oconfig_item_t));
 
-	cf_include_all (root, depth);
+	/* wordexp() might return a sorted list already. That's not
+	 * documented though, so let's make sure we get what we want. */
+	qsort ((void *) we.we_wordv, we.we_wordc, sizeof (*we.we_wordv),
+			cf_compare_string);
+
+	for (i = 0; i < we.we_wordc; i++)
+	{
+		oconfig_item_t *temp;
+		struct stat statbuf;
+
+		path_ptr = we.we_wordv[i];
+
+		status = stat (path_ptr, &statbuf);
+		if (status != 0)
+		{
+			char errbuf[1024];
+			WARNING ("configfile: stat (%s) failed: %s",
+					path_ptr,
+					sstrerror (errno, errbuf, sizeof (errbuf)));
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		if (S_ISREG (statbuf.st_mode))
+			temp = cf_read_file (path_ptr, depth);
+		else if (S_ISDIR (statbuf.st_mode))
+			temp = cf_read_dir (path_ptr, depth);
+		else
+		{
+			WARNING ("configfile: %s is neither a file nor a "
+					"directory.", path);
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		if (temp == NULL) {
+			oconfig_free (root);
+			return (NULL);
+		}
+
+		cf_ci_append_children (root, temp);
+		sfree (temp->children);
+		sfree (temp);
+	}
+
+	wordfree (&we);
+
+	if (root->children == NULL)
+	{
+		oconfig_free (root);
+		return (NULL);
+	}
 
 	return (root);
-} /* oconfig_item_t *cf_read_file */
+} /* oconfig_item_t *cf_read_generic */
+/* #endif HAVE_WORDEXP_H */
+
+#else /* if !HAVE_WORDEXP_H */
+static oconfig_item_t *cf_read_generic (const char *path, int depth)
+{
+	struct stat statbuf;
+	int status;
+
+	if (depth >= CF_MAX_DEPTH)
+	{
+		ERROR ("configfile: Not including `%s' because the maximum "
+				"nesting depth has been reached.", path);
+		return (NULL);
+	}
+
+	status = stat (path, &statbuf);
+	if (status != 0)
+	{
+		char errbuf[1024];
+		ERROR ("configfile: stat (%s) failed: %s",
+				path,
+				sstrerror (errno, errbuf, sizeof (errbuf)));
+		return (NULL);
+	}
+
+	if (S_ISREG (statbuf.st_mode))
+		return (cf_read_file (path, depth));
+	else if (S_ISDIR (statbuf.st_mode))
+		return (cf_read_dir (path, depth));
+
+	ERROR ("configfile: %s is neither a file nor a directory.", path);
+	return (NULL);
+} /* oconfig_item_t *cf_read_generic */
+#endif /* !HAVE_WORDEXP_H */
 
 /* 
  * Public functions
@@ -603,7 +914,7 @@ int cf_read (char *filename)
 	oconfig_item_t *conf;
 	int i;
 
-	conf = cf_read_file (filename, 0 /* depth */);
+	conf = cf_read_generic (filename, 0 /* depth */);
 	if (conf == NULL)
 	{
 		ERROR ("Unable to read config file %s.", filename);
@@ -618,7 +929,158 @@ int cf_read (char *filename)
 			dispatch_block (conf->children + i);
 	}
 
+	oconfig_free (conf);
+
+	/* Read the default types.db if no `TypesDB' option was given. */
 	if (cf_default_typesdb)
-		read_types_list (PLUGINDIR"/types.db"); /* FIXME: Configure path */
+		read_types_list (PKGDATADIR"/types.db");
+
 	return (0);
 } /* int cf_read */
+
+/* Assures the config option is a string, duplicates it and returns the copy in
+ * "ret_string". If necessary "*ret_string" is freed first. Returns zero upon
+ * success. */
+int cf_util_get_string (const oconfig_item_t *ci, char **ret_string) /* {{{ */
+{
+	char *string;
+
+	if ((ci->values_num != 1) || (ci->values[0].type != OCONFIG_TYPE_STRING))
+	{
+		ERROR ("cf_util_get_string: The %s option requires "
+				"exactly one string argument.", ci->key);
+		return (-1);
+	}
+
+	string = strdup (ci->values[0].value.string);
+	if (string == NULL)
+		return (-1);
+
+	if (*ret_string != NULL)
+		sfree (*ret_string);
+	*ret_string = string;
+
+	return (0);
+} /* }}} int cf_util_get_string */
+
+/* Assures the config option is a string and copies it to the provided buffer.
+ * Assures null-termination. */
+int cf_util_get_string_buffer (const oconfig_item_t *ci, char *buffer, /* {{{ */
+		size_t buffer_size)
+{
+	if ((ci == NULL) || (buffer == NULL) || (buffer_size < 1))
+		return (EINVAL);
+
+	if ((ci->values_num != 1) || (ci->values[0].type != OCONFIG_TYPE_STRING))
+	{
+		ERROR ("cf_util_get_string_buffer: The %s option requires "
+				"exactly one string argument.", ci->key);
+		return (-1);
+	}
+
+	strncpy (buffer, ci->values[0].value.string, buffer_size);
+	buffer[buffer_size - 1] = 0;
+
+	return (0);
+} /* }}} int cf_util_get_string_buffer */
+
+/* Assures the config option is a number and returns it as an int. */
+int cf_util_get_int (const oconfig_item_t *ci, int *ret_value) /* {{{ */
+{
+	if ((ci == NULL) || (ret_value == NULL))
+		return (EINVAL);
+
+	if ((ci->values_num != 1) || (ci->values[0].type != OCONFIG_TYPE_NUMBER))
+	{
+		ERROR ("cf_util_get_int: The %s option requires "
+				"exactly one numeric argument.", ci->key);
+		return (-1);
+	}
+
+	*ret_value = (int) ci->values[0].value.number;
+
+	return (0);
+} /* }}} int cf_util_get_int */
+
+int cf_util_get_boolean (const oconfig_item_t *ci, _Bool *ret_bool) /* {{{ */
+{
+	if ((ci == NULL) || (ret_bool == NULL))
+		return (EINVAL);
+
+	if ((ci->values_num != 1) || (ci->values[0].type != OCONFIG_TYPE_BOOLEAN))
+	{
+		ERROR ("cf_util_get_boolean: The %s option requires "
+				"exactly one boolean argument.", ci->key);
+		return (-1);
+	}
+
+	*ret_bool = ci->values[0].value.boolean ? 1 : 0;
+
+	return (0);
+} /* }}} int cf_util_get_boolean */
+
+int cf_util_get_flag (const oconfig_item_t *ci, /* {{{ */
+		unsigned int *ret_value, unsigned int flag)
+{
+	int status;
+	_Bool b;
+
+	if (ret_value == NULL)
+		return (EINVAL);
+
+	b = 0;
+	status = cf_util_get_boolean (ci, &b);
+	if (status != 0)
+		return (status);
+
+	if (b)
+	{
+		*ret_value |= flag;
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		*ret_value &= ~flag;
+	}
+
+	return (0);
+} /* }}} int cf_util_get_flag */
+
+/* Assures that the config option is a string. The string is then converted to
+ * a port number using `service_name_to_port_number' and returned. Returns the
+ * port number in the range [1-65535] or less than zero upon failure. */
+int cf_util_get_port_number (const oconfig_item_t *ci) /* {{{ */
+{
+	if ((ci->values_num != 1) || (ci->values[0].type != OCONFIG_TYPE_STRING))
+	{
+		ERROR ("cf_util_get_port_number: The %s option requires "
+				"exactly one string argument.", ci->key);
+		return (-1);
+	}
+
+	return (service_name_to_port_number (ci->values[0].value.string));
+} /* }}} int cf_util_get_port_number */
+
+int cf_util_get_cdtime (const oconfig_item_t *ci, cdtime_t *ret_value) /* {{{ */
+{
+	if ((ci == NULL) || (ret_value == NULL))
+		return (EINVAL);
+
+	if ((ci->values_num != 1) || (ci->values[0].type != OCONFIG_TYPE_NUMBER))
+	{
+		ERROR ("cf_util_get_cdtime: The %s option requires "
+				"exactly one numeric argument.", ci->key);
+		return (-1);
+	}
+
+	if (ci->values[0].value.number < 0.0)
+	{
+		ERROR ("cf_util_get_cdtime: The numeric argument of the %s "
+				"option must not be negative.", ci->key);
+		return (-1);
+	}
+
+	*ret_value = DOUBLE_TO_CDTIME_T (ci->values[0].value.number);
+
+	return (0);
+} /* }}} int cf_util_get_cdtime */
+