VMS Help TCPIP Services, Programming Interfaces, Sockets API, recv(), Description  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

    This function receives data from a connected socket. To receive
    data on an unconnected socket, use the recvfrom() or recvmsg()
    functions. The received data is placed in the buffer buf.
    Data is sent by the socket's peer using the send, sendmsg(),
    sendto(), or write()  functions.
    Use the select() function to determine when more data arrives.
    If no data is available at the socket, the receive call waits for
    data to arrive, unless the socket is nonblocking. If the socket
    is nonblocking, a -1 is returned with the external variable errno
    set to EWOULDBLOCK.
    Related Functions
    See also read(), send(),  sendmsg(), sendto(), and socket().