Libwebsockets 4.5 fails with ERROR opening socket in QNX 7.1

[samchackogit2026-cmd]

We recently built the libwebsockets library for the QNX 7.1 OS, successfully. However, while running the minimal-ws-server, the library is throwing the error "ERROR opening socket".
Note: We previously built Libwebsockets 4.3 for QNX 7.1, and it worked properly. The issue occurs with Libwebsockets 4.5.
Below is the error log after running the minimal-ws-server.
minimal-ws-server -d 65535
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:6494] U: LWS minimal ws server | visit http://localhost:7681 (-s = use TLS / https)
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:6554] D: _realloc: size 6808: context
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:6614] N: localhost: lws_create_context: LWS: 4.5.2-unknown, NET CLI SRV H1 H2 WS SS-JSON-POL ConMon IPv6-absent
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:6744] I: localhost: lws_create_context: Event loop: poll
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:6824] D: _realloc: size 36: lws_smd_register
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:6894] I: localhost: lws_smd_register: peer 1a39f050 (count 1) registered
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:6984] D: _realloc: size 8000: fds table
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:7044] I: localhost: lws_create_context: ctx: 5792B (1696 ctx + pt(1 thr x 4096)), pt-fds: 1000
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:7154] I: localhost: lws_create_context: http: ah_data: 4096, ah: 968, max count 1000
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:7254] D: _realloc: size 4000: lws_lookup
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:7324] I: localhost: lws_plat_init: mem: platform fd map: 4000 B
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:7414] D: _realloc: size 1016: __lws_wsi_create_with_role
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:7484] D: : lws_role_transition: wsistate 0x200, ops pipe
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:7564] I: localhost: __lws_lc_tag: ++ [wsi|0|pipe] (1)
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:7644] D: [wsi|0|pipe]: __insert_wsi_socket_into_fds: tsi=0, sock=4, pos-in-fds=0
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:7744] I: localhost: lws_context_init_ssl_library: Compiled with OpenSSL support
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:7834] I: localhost: lws_context_init_ssl_library: SSL disabled: no LWS_SERVER_OPTION_DO_SSL_GLOBAL_INIT
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:7964] I: localhost: lws_server_get_canonical_hostname: canonical_hostname = localhost
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:8064] D: _realloc: size 703: lws_create_vhost
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:8134] I: localhost: __lws_lc_tag: ++ [vh|0|system||-1] (1)
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:8214] D: _realloc: size 168: vh plugin table
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:8284] D: _realloc: size 60: same vh list
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:8344] I: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_create_vhost: Creating Vhost 'system' (serving disabled), 5 protocols, IPv6 off
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:8474] D: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-stdin
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:8564] I: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init system.lws-stdin
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:8664] D: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-secstream-h1
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:8764] I: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init system.lws-secstream-h1
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:8874] D: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-secstream-h2
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:8974] I: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init system.lws-secstream-h2
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:9074] D: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-secstream-ws
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:9174] I: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init system.lws-secstream-ws
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:9274] D: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-secstream-raw
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:9384] I: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init system.lws-secstream-raw
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:9484] D: _realloc: size 706: lws_create_vhost
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:9554] I: localhost: __lws_lc_tag: ++ [vh|1|localhost||7681] (2)
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:9634] D: _realloc: size 196: vh plugin table
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:9704] D: _realloc: size 72: same vh list
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:9774] I: [vh|1|localhost||7681]: lws_create_vhost: Creating Vhost 'localhost' port 7681, 6 protocols, IPv6 off
[2025/06/11 03:51:14:9894] I: [vh|1|localhost||7681]: lws_create_vhost: mounting file://./mount-origin to /
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:0004] I: _lws_vhost_init_server_af: af 0
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:0064] E: ERROR opening socket
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:0124] I: localhost: lws_create_context: mem: per-conn: 1016 bytes + protocol rx buf
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:0234] I: localhost: lws_plat_drop_app_privileges: not changing group
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:0314] I: localhost: lws_plat_drop_app_privileges: not changing user
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:0404] D: localhost: lws_cancel_service:
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:0474] D: localhost: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 1 'CONTEXT_CREATED' -> 2 'INITIALIZED'
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:0584] D: localhost: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 2 'INITIALIZED' -> 3 'IFACE_COLDPLUG'
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:0694] D: localhost: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 3 'IFACE_COLDPLUG' -> 4 'DHCP'
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:0804] D: localhost: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 4 'DHCP' -> 5 'CPD_PRE_TIME'
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:0904] D: localhost: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 5 'CPD_PRE_TIME' -> 6 'TIME_VALID'
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:1014] D: localhost: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 6 'TIME_VALID' -> 7 'CPD_POST_TIME'
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:1134] D: localhost: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 7 'CPD_POST_TIME' -> 8 'POLICY_VALID'
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:1244] I: localhost: lws_state_notify_protocol_init: doing protocol init on POLICY_VALID
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:1344] I: localhost: lws_protocol_init:
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:1414] D: [vh|1|localhost||7681]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating http
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:1514] I: [vh|1|localhost||7681]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init localhost.http
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:1604] D: [vh|1|localhost||7681]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-minimal
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:1714] I: [vh|1|localhost||7681]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init localhost.lws-minimal
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:1814] D: _realloc: size 24: protocol_vh_privs
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:1884] D: _realloc: size 28: vh priv
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:1944] D: [vh|1|localhost||7681]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-secstream-h1
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:2054] I: [vh|1|localhost||7681]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init localhost.lws-secstream-h1
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:2154] D: [vh|1|localhost||7681]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-secstream-h2
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:2264] I: [vh|1|localhost||7681]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init localhost.lws-secstream-h2
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:2374] D: [vh|1|localhost||7681]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-secstream-ws
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:2484] I: [vh|1|localhost||7681]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init localhost.lws-secstream-ws
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:2594] D: [vh|1|localhost||7681]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-secstream-raw
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:2704] I: [vh|1|localhost||7681]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init localhost.lws-secstream-raw
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:2804] D: localhost: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 8 'POLICY_VALID' -> 9 'REGISTERED'
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:2914] D: localhost: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 9 'REGISTERED' -> 10 'AUTH1'
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:3024] D: localhost: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 10 'AUTH1' -> 11 'AUTH2'
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:3124] D: localhost: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 11 'AUTH2' -> 12 'ONE_TIME_UPDATES'
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:3234] D: localhost: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 12 'ONE_TIME_UPDATES' -> 13 'OPERATIONAL'
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:3354] D: localhost: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 13 'OPERATIONAL' -> 14 'POLICY_INVALID'
[2025/06/11 03:51:15:3464] I: localhost: lws_state_transition_steps: CONTEXT_CREATED -> POLICY_INVALID

[lws-team]

Dunno. I see ipv6 is disabled but it's using PF_UNSPEC if the enum for that is the same on qnx.

For that or some other reason, it can't open the listen socket on :7681

On Linux it works as usual. You'll have to look around in lib/roles/http/server/server.c :235 where it prints the error, eg, to dump errno to get a clue.

It's a proprietary OS I can't get a copy of to run it in CI AFAIK. So I am afraid it will break from time to time.

[samchackogit2026-cmd]

Thank you for the quick response. I have done some debugging and printed the error number along with other values. To get the debug messages, I added additional debug statements.
Below is the code snippet used:
if (a->info && a->info->vh_listen_sockfd)
{
#if defined(_WIN32)
if (!DuplicateHandle(GetCurrentProcess(),
(HANDLE)a->info->vh_listen_sockfd,
GetCurrentProcess(), (HANDLE*)&sockfd, 0,
FALSE, DUPLICATE_SAME_ACCESS))
sockfd = LWS_SOCK_INVALID;
#else
#if defined(LWS_PLAT_FREERTOS)
sockfd = a->info->vh_listen_sockfd;
#else
sockfd = dup(a->info->vh_listen_sockfd);
#endif
#endif
lwsl_err("Inside the if condition -- a->af = %d Sockfd = %d\n",a->af,sockfd);
}
else
{
sockfd = lws_fi(&a->vhost->fic, "listenskt") ?
LWS_SOCK_INVALID :
socket(a->af, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
lwsl_err("Inside the else -- a->af = %d Sockfd = %d\n",a->af,sockfd);

	}
	if (sockfd == LWS_SOCK_INVALID) {
		lwsl_err("ERROR opening socket Value  a->af  =%d- sockfd= %d -error numb = %d\n",a->af,sockfd, errno);
		return 1;
	}

Below is the logs

minimal-ws-server -d 65535
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:7027] U: LWS minimal ws server | visit http://localhost:7681 (-s = use TLS / https)
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:7087] D: _realloc: size 6808: context
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:7147] N: 127.0.0.1: lws_create_context: LWS: 4.5.2-unknown, NET CLI SRV H1 H2 WS SS-JSON-POL ConMon IPv6-absent
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:7267] I: 127.0.0.1: lws_create_context: Event loop: poll
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:7347] D: _realloc: size 36: lws_smd_register
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:7417] I: 127.0.0.1: lws_smd_register: peer 1d982050 (count 1) registered
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:7507] D: _realloc: size 8000: fds table
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:7567] I: 127.0.0.1: lws_create_context: ctx: 5792B (1696 ctx + pt(1 thr x 4096)), pt-fds: 1000
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:7677] I: 127.0.0.1: lws_create_context: http: ah_data: 4096, ah: 968, max count 1000
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:7787] D: _realloc: size 4000: lws_lookup
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:7847] I: 127.0.0.1: lws_plat_init: mem: platform fd map: 4000 B
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:7937] D: _realloc: size 1016: __lws_wsi_create_with_role
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:8017] D: : lws_role_transition: wsistate 0x200, ops pipe
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:8097] I: 127.0.0.1: __lws_lc_tag: ++ [wsi|0|pipe] (1)
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:8167] D: [wsi|0|pipe]: __insert_wsi_socket_into_fds: tsi=0, sock=4, pos-in-fds=0
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:8267] I: 127.0.0.1: lws_context_init_ssl_library: Compiled with OpenSSL support
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:8367] I: 127.0.0.1: lws_context_init_ssl_library: SSL disabled: no LWS_SERVER_OPTION_DO_SSL_GLOBAL_INIT
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:8487] I: 127.0.0.1: lws_server_get_canonical_hostname: canonical_hostname = localhost
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:8587] D: _realloc: size 703: lws_create_vhost
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:8657] I: 127.0.0.1: __lws_lc_tag: ++ [vh|0|system||-1] (1)
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:8737] D: _realloc: size 168: vh plugin table
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:8807] D: _realloc: size 60: same vh list
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:8867] I: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_create_vhost: Creating Vhost 'system' (serving disabled), 5 protocols, IPv6 off
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:8997] D: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-stdin
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:9097] I: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init system.lws-stdin
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:9187] D: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-secstream-h1
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:9297] I: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init system.lws-secstream-h1
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:9397] D: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-secstream-h2
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:9497] I: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init system.lws-secstream-h2
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:9597] D: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-secstream-ws
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:9697] I: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init system.lws-secstream-ws
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:9797] D: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-secstream-raw
[2025/06/12 00:47:49:9907] I: [vh|0|system||-1]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init system.lws-secstream-raw
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:0007] D: _realloc: size 706: lws_create_vhost
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:0077] I: 127.0.0.1: __lws_lc_tag: ++ [vh|1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|8080] (2)
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:0177] D: _realloc: size 196: vh plugin table
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:0247] D: _realloc: size 72: same vh list
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:0307] I: [vh|1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|8080]: lws_create_vhost: Creating Vhost '127.0.0.1' port 8080, 6 protocols, IPv6 off
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:0447] I: [vh|1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|8080]: lws_create_vhost: mounting file://./mount-origin to /
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:0577] I: _lws_vhost_init_server_af: af 0
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:0637] E: Inside the if condition -- a->af = 0 Sockfd = -1
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:0717] E: ERROR opening socket Value a->af =0- sockfd= -1 -error numb = 3
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:0817] I: 127.0.0.1: lws_create_context: mem: per-conn: 1016 bytes + protocol rx buf
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:0917] I: 127.0.0.1: lws_plat_drop_app_privileges: not changing group
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:1007] I: 127.0.0.1: lws_plat_drop_app_privileges: not changing user
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:1097] D: 127.0.0.1: lws_cancel_service:
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:1167] D: 127.0.0.1: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 1 'CONTEXT_CREATED' -> 2 'INITIALIZED'
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:1277] D: 127.0.0.1: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 2 'INITIALIZED' -> 3 'IFACE_COLDPLUG'
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:1387] D: 127.0.0.1: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 3 'IFACE_COLDPLUG' -> 4 'DHCP'
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:1497] D: 127.0.0.1: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 4 'DHCP' -> 5 'CPD_PRE_TIME'
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:1597] D: 127.0.0.1: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 5 'CPD_PRE_TIME' -> 6 'TIME_VALID'
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:1707] D: 127.0.0.1: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 6 'TIME_VALID' -> 7 'CPD_POST_TIME'
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:1817] D: 127.0.0.1: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 7 'CPD_POST_TIME' -> 8 'POLICY_VALID'
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:1937] I: 127.0.0.1: lws_state_notify_protocol_init: doing protocol init on POLICY_VALID
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:2037] I: 127.0.0.1: lws_protocol_init:
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:2107] D: [vh|1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|8080]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating http
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:2217] I: [vh|1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|8080]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init 127.0.0.1.http
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:2327] D: [vh|1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|8080]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-minimal
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:2457] I: [vh|1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|8080]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init 127.0.0.1.lws-minimal
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:2567] D: _realloc: size 24: protocol_vh_privs
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:2637] D: _realloc: size 28: vh priv
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:2697] D: [vh|1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|8080]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-secstream-h1
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:2827] I: [vh|1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|8080]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init 127.0.0.1.lws-secstream-h1
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:2947] D: [vh|1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|8080]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-secstream-h2
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:3077] I: [vh|1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|8080]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init 127.0.0.1.lws-secstream-h2
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:3197] D: [vh|1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|8080]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-secstream-ws
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:3327] I: [vh|1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|8080]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init 127.0.0.1.lws-secstream-ws
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:3447] D: [vh|1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|8080]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: not instantiating lws-secstream-raw
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:3577] I: [vh|1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|127.0.0.1|8080]: lws_protocol_init_vhost: init 127.0.0.1.lws-secstream-raw
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:3697] D: 127.0.0.1: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 8 'POLICY_VALID' -> 9 'REGISTERED'
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:3807] D: 127.0.0.1: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 9 'REGISTERED' -> 10 'AUTH1'
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:3917] D: 127.0.0.1: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 10 'AUTH1' -> 11 'AUTH2'
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:4017] D: 127.0.0.1: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 11 'AUTH2' -> 12 'ONE_TIME_UPDATES'
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:4127] D: 127.0.0.1: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 12 'ONE_TIME_UPDATES' -> 13 'OPERATIONAL'
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:4247] D: 127.0.0.1: _lws_state_transition: system: changed 13 'OPERATIONAL' -> 14 'POLICY_INVALID'
[2025/06/12 00:47:50:4357] I: 127.0.0.1: lws_state_transition_steps: CONTEXT_CREATED -> POLICY_INVALID

[lws-team]

So not having QNX, I can't interpret errno = 3. If you look t up in /usr/include/errno.h or similar, I am probably not going to understand the implications of EWHATEVER or whatever it is on that OS either, unless it's obvious.

Sometimes the lesser-spotted *nix has extra fields in the socket structs that make trouble, its maybe something like that.