#include <sys/ddi.h>
#include <sys/sunddi.h>

Architecture independent level 1 (DDI/DKI)

The buf structure is the basic data structure for block I/O transfers. Each block I/O transfer has an associated buffer header. The header contains all the buffer control and status information. For drivers, the buffer header pointer is the sole argument to a block driver strategy(9E) routine. Do not depend on the size of the buf structure when writing a driver.

A buffer header can be linked in multiple lists simultaneously. Because of this, most of the members in the buffer header cannot be changed by the driver, even when the buffer header is in one of the driver's work lists.

Buffer headers are also used by the system for unbuffered or physical I/O for block drivers. In this case, the buffer describes a portion of user data space that is locked into memory.

Block drivers often chain block requests so that overall throughput for the device is maximized. The av_forw and the av_back members of the buf structure can serve as link pointers for chaining block requests.

int b_flags; /* Buffer status */ 
struct buf *av_forw; /* Driver work list link */
struct buf *av_back; /* Driver work list link */
size_t b_bcount; /* # of bytes to transfer */ 
union {
 caddr_t b_addr; /* Buffer's virtual address */ 
} b_un;
daddr_t b_blkno; /* Block number on device */ 
diskaddr_t b_lblkno; /* Expanded block number on dev. */ 
size_t b_resid; /* # of bytes not xferred */ 
size_t b_bufsize; /* size of alloc. buffer */
int (*b_iodone)(struct buf *); /* function called */
 /* by biodone */
int b_error; /* expanded error field */
void *b_private; /* "opaque" driver private area */
dev_t b_edev; /* expanded dev field */

The members of the buffer header available to test or set by a driver are as follows:

b_flags stores the buffer status and indicates to the driver whether to read or write to the device. The driver must never clear the b_flags member. If this is done, unpredictable results can occur including loss of disk sanity and the possible failure of other kernel processes.

All b_flags bit values not otherwise specified above are reserved by the kernel and may not be used.

Valid flags are as follows:

B_BUSY

B_DONE

B_ERROR

B_PAGEIO

B_PHYS

B_READ

B_WRITE

av_forw and av_back can be used by the driver to link the buffer into driver work lists.

b_bcount specifies the number of bytes to be transferred in both a paged and a non-paged I/O request.

b_un.b_addr is the virtual address of the I/O request, unless B_PAGEIO is set. The address is a kernel virtual address, unless B_PHYS is set, in which case it is a user virtual address. If B_PAGEIO is set, b_un.b_addr contains kernel private data. Note that either one of B_PHYS and B_PAGEIO, or neither, can be set, but not both.

b_blkno identifies which logical block on the device (the device is defined by the device number) is to be accessed. The driver might have to convert this logical block number to a physical location such as a cylinder, track, and sector of a disk. This is a 32-bit value. The driver should use b_blkno or b_lblkno, but not both.

b_lblkno identifies which logical block on the device (the device is defined by the device number) is to be accessed. The driver might have to convert this logical block number to a physical location such as a cylinder, track, and sector of a disk. This is a 64-bit value. The driver should use b_lblkno or b_blkno, but not both.

b_resid should be set to the number of bytes not transferred because of an error.

b_bufsize contains the size of the allocated buffer.

b_iodone identifies a specific biodone routine to be called by the driver when the I/O is complete.

b_error can hold an error code that should be passed as a return code from the driver. b_error is set in conjunction with the B_ERROR bit set in the b_flags member. bioerror(9F) should be used in preference to setting the b_error field.

b_private is for the private use of the device driver.

b_edev contains the major and minor device numbers of the device accessed.

strategy(9E), aphysio(9F), bioclone(9F), biodone(9F), bioerror(9F), bioinit(9F), clrbuf(9F), getrbuf(9F), physio(9F), iovec(9S), uio(9S)

Writing Device Drivers

Buffers are a shared resource within the kernel. Drivers should read or write only the members listed in this section. Drivers that attempt to use undocumented members of the buf structure risk corrupting data in the kernel or on the device.