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Diffstat (limited to 'Documentation/networking/netdevices.txt')
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diff --git a/Documentation/networking/netdevices.txt b/Documentation/networking/netdevices.txt new file mode 100644 index 000000000..0b1cf6b2a --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/networking/netdevices.txt @@ -0,0 +1,107 @@ + +Network Devices, the Kernel, and You! + + +Introduction +============ +The following is a random collection of documentation regarding +network devices. + +struct net_device allocation rules +================================== +Network device structures need to persist even after module is unloaded and +must be allocated with alloc_netdev_mqs() and friends. +If device has registered successfully, it will be freed on last use +by free_netdev(). This is required to handle the pathologic case cleanly +(example: rmmod mydriver </sys/class/net/myeth/mtu ) + +alloc_netdev_mqs()/alloc_netdev() reserve extra space for driver +private data which gets freed when the network device is freed. If +separately allocated data is attached to the network device +(netdev_priv(dev)) then it is up to the module exit handler to free that. + +MTU +=== +Each network device has a Maximum Transfer Unit. The MTU does not +include any link layer protocol overhead. Upper layer protocols must +not pass a socket buffer (skb) to a device to transmit with more data +than the mtu. The MTU does not include link layer header overhead, so +for example on Ethernet if the standard MTU is 1500 bytes used, the +actual skb will contain up to 1514 bytes because of the Ethernet +header. Devices should allow for the 4 byte VLAN header as well. + +Segmentation Offload (GSO, TSO) is an exception to this rule. The +upper layer protocol may pass a large socket buffer to the device +transmit routine, and the device will break that up into separate +packets based on the current MTU. + +MTU is symmetrical and applies both to receive and transmit. A device +must be able to receive at least the maximum size packet allowed by +the MTU. A network device may use the MTU as mechanism to size receive +buffers, but the device should allow packets with VLAN header. With +standard Ethernet mtu of 1500 bytes, the device should allow up to +1518 byte packets (1500 + 14 header + 4 tag). The device may either: +drop, truncate, or pass up oversize packets, but dropping oversize +packets is preferred. + + +struct net_device synchronization rules +======================================= +ndo_open: + Synchronization: rtnl_lock() semaphore. + Context: process + +ndo_stop: + Synchronization: rtnl_lock() semaphore. + Context: process + Note: netif_running() is guaranteed false + +ndo_do_ioctl: + Synchronization: rtnl_lock() semaphore. + Context: process + +ndo_get_stats: + Synchronization: dev_base_lock rwlock. + Context: nominally process, but don't sleep inside an rwlock + +ndo_start_xmit: + Synchronization: __netif_tx_lock spinlock. + + When the driver sets NETIF_F_LLTX in dev->features this will be + called without holding netif_tx_lock. In this case the driver + has to lock by itself when needed. It is recommended to use a try lock + for this and return NETDEV_TX_LOCKED when the spin lock fails. + The locking there should also properly protect against + set_rx_mode. Note that the use of NETIF_F_LLTX is deprecated. + Don't use it for new drivers. + + Context: Process with BHs disabled or BH (timer), + will be called with interrupts disabled by netconsole. + + Return codes: + o NETDEV_TX_OK everything ok. + o NETDEV_TX_BUSY Cannot transmit packet, try later + Usually a bug, means queue start/stop flow control is broken in + the driver. Note: the driver must NOT put the skb in its DMA ring. + o NETDEV_TX_LOCKED Locking failed, please retry quickly. + Only valid when NETIF_F_LLTX is set. + +ndo_tx_timeout: + Synchronization: netif_tx_lock spinlock; all TX queues frozen. + Context: BHs disabled + Notes: netif_queue_stopped() is guaranteed true + +ndo_set_rx_mode: + Synchronization: netif_addr_lock spinlock. + Context: BHs disabled + +struct napi_struct synchronization rules +======================================== +napi->poll: + Synchronization: NAPI_STATE_SCHED bit in napi->state. Device + driver's ndo_stop method will invoke napi_disable() on + all NAPI instances which will do a sleeping poll on the + NAPI_STATE_SCHED napi->state bit, waiting for all pending + NAPI activity to cease. + Context: softirq + will be called with interrupts disabled by netconsole. |