# phpman > man > pam_sm_open_session(3)

[PAM_SM_OPEN_SESSION(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/PAMSMOPENSESSION/3/markdown)                    Linux-PAM Manual                    [PAM_SM_OPEN_SESSION(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/PAMSMOPENSESSION/3/markdown)



## NAME
       pam_sm_open_session - PAM service function to start session management

## SYNOPSIS
       **#include** **<security/pam**___**modules.h>**

       **int** **pam**___**sm**___**open**___**session(pam**___**handle**___**t** *****_pamh_**,** **int** _flags_**,** **int** _argc_**,** **const** **char** ******_argv_**);**

## DESCRIPTION
       The **pam**___**sm**___**open**___**session** function is the service module's implementation of the
       **pam**___**open**___**[session**(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/session/3/markdown) interface.

       This function is called to commence a session. The only valid value for _flags_ is zero or:

       PAM_SILENT
           Do not emit any messages.

## RETURN VALUES
       PAM_SESSION_ERR
           Cannot make/remove an entry for the specified session.

       PAM_SUCCESS
           The session was successfully started.

## SEE ALSO
       [**pam**(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/pam/3/markdown), **pam**___**open**___**[session**(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/session/3/markdown), **pam**___**sm**___**close**___**[session**(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/session/3/markdown), **pam**___**[strerror**(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/strerror/3/markdown), [**PAM**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/PAM/8/markdown)



Linux-PAM Manual                             06/08/2020                       [PAM_SM_OPEN_SESSION(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/PAMSMOPENSESSION/3/markdown)