The _zmq_device()_ function starts a built-in 0MQ device. The 'device' argument is one of:
'ZMQ_QUEUE'::
starts a queue device
'ZMQ_FORWARDER'::
starts a forwarder device
'ZMQ_STREAMER'::
starts a streamer device
The device connects a frontend socket to a backend socket. Conceptually, data flows from frontend to backend. Depending on the socket types, replies may flow in the opposite direction.
Before calling _zmq_device()_ you must set any socket options, and connect or bind both frontend and backend sockets. The two conventional device models are:
*proxy*::
bind frontend socket to an endpoint, and connect backend socket to downstream components. A proxy device model does not require changes to the downstream topology but that topology is static (any changes require reconfiguring the device).
*broker*::
bind frontend socket to one endpoint and bind backend socket to a second endpoint. Downstream components must now connect into the device. A broker device model allows a dynamic downstream topology (components can come and go at any time).
_zmq_device()_ runs in the current thread and returns only if/when the current context is closed.
QUEUE DEVICE
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'ZMQ_QUEUE' creates a shared queue that collects requests from a set of clients, and distributes these fairly among a set of services. Requests are fair-queued from frontend connections and load-balanced between backend connections. Replies automatically return to the client that made the original request.
This device is part of the 'request-reply' pattern. The frontend speaks to clients and the backend speaks to services. You should use 'ZMQ_QUEUE' with a 'ZMQ_XREP' socket for the frontend and a 'ZMQ_XREQ' socket for the backend. Other combinations are not documented.
Refer to linkzmq:zmq_socket[3] for a description of these socket types.
FORWARDER DEVICE
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'ZMQ_FORWARDER' collects messages from a set of publishers and forwards these to a set of subscribers. You will generally use this to bridge networks, e.g. read on TCP unicast and forward on multicast.
This device is part of the 'publish-subscribe' pattern. The frontend speaks to publishers and the backend speaks to subscribers. You should use 'ZMQ_FORWARDER' with a 'ZMQ_SUB' socket for the frontend and a 'ZMQ_PUB' socket for the backend. Other combinations are not documented.
Refer to linkzmq:zmq_socket[3] for a description of these socket types.
STREAMER DEVICE
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'ZMQ_STREAMER' collects tasks from a set of pushers and forwards these to a set of pullers. You will generally use this to bridge networks. Messages are fair-queued from pushers and load-balanced to pullers.
This device is part of the 'pipeline' pattern. The frontend speaks to pushers and the backend speaks to pullers. You should use 'ZMQ_STREAMER' with a 'ZMQ_PULL' socket for the frontend and a 'ZMQ_PUSH' socket for the backend. Other combinations are not documented.
Refer to linkzmq:zmq_socket[3] for a description of these socket types.
RETURN VALUE
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The _zmq_device()_ function always returns `-1` and 'errno' set to *ETERM* (the 0MQ 'context' associated with either of the specified sockets was terminated).