semctl ID,SEMNUM,CMD,ARG Calls the System V IPC function semctl(2). You'll probably have to say use IPC::SysV; first to get the correct constant definitions. If CMD is IPC_STAT or GETALL, then ARG must be a variable that will hold the returned semid_ds structure or semaphore value array. Returns like "ioctl": the undefined value for error, ""0 but true"" for zero, or the actual return value otherwise. The ARG must consist of a vector of native short integers, which may be created with "pack("s!",(0)x$nsem)". See also "SysV IPC" in perlipc, "IPC::SysV", "IPC::Semaphore" documentation. Portability issues: "semctl" in perlport.