bidirectional named pipe?

[Miller, Brendan]

I've countless web searches and linux-kernel archives, but I haven't yet
found the answer to my question.

I'm porting some software to Linux that requires use of a bidirectional,
named pipe.  The architecture is as follows:  A server creates a named pipe
in the /tmp directory.  Any client can then open("/tmp/pipename",
O_RDWR|O_NDELAY) and gain access to the server.  The pipe is bidirectional,
so the client and server communicate on the same pipe.  I support a number
of clients on the single pipe using file-locking to prohibit from two
clients from writing/reading at once.

How can I do this under Linux?  In SVR4 Unices, I just use pipe() as it's
pipes are bidirectional, and I can attach a name with fattach().  In SVR3
Unices, I go through a bunch of hacking using the "stream clone device --
/dev/spx".  I experiemented with socket-based pipes under Linux, but I
couldn't gain access to them by open()ing the name.  Is there help?  I
really don't want to use LiS (the Linux Streams) package, as I'd rather do
something native and not be dependent on another module.  Plus, I read
somewhere that this was a poor way to do things.

Brendan

Please cc: me personally, as I am not subscribed.