allocate_instance(9)

💅 allocate_instance(9) — from the Kernel API Manual, bestie 🎀

okay so picture this: you're deep in the kernel, you need an instance number, and this little icon is the one who hands it to you. welcome to the page, it's short but it's mighty. ✨

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🌸 NAME 🌸

allocate_instance — literally just: allocate an instance number. that's the whole job, and she does it. 👑

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

int allocate_instance (unsigned int *instance_ptr );

(yes, that's exactly how it's written, space before the paren and all — we don't edit the original, we respect it 🫶)

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🦋 ARGUMENTS 🦋

• instance_ptr — a point to hold the instance number. like, that's where the number lands when she's done. 💖

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🌈 RETURN 🌈

VDO_SUCCESS or an error code. that's it, that's the whole range of outcomes — slay or fail, no in between. ⭐

ngl if you get something that isn't VDO_SUCCESS, that's your error code and you should probably look at it. 👀

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💜 DESCRIPTION 💜

this function must be called while holding the instances lock.

no cap, that's not a suggestion, that's the rule. grip the lock first, then call her. main character energy only works when the lock is held. 🔥

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🎀 SEE ALSO 🎀

the kernel file is ./drivers/md/dm-vdo/dm-vdo-target.c, and then, bestie, the friend group is huge. everyone here is (9), obviously:

• free_device_config(9)
• get_version_number(9)
• parse_bool(9)
• parse_memory(9)
• parse_slab_size(9)
• process_one_thread_config_spec(9)
• parse_one_thread_config_spec(9)
• parse_thread_config_string(9)
• process_one_key_value_pair(9)
• parse_one_key_value_pair(9)
• parse_key_value_pairs(9)
• parse_optional_arguments(9)
• handle_parse_error(9)
• parse_device_config(9)
• get_thread_id_for_phase(9)
• advance_phase(9)
• finish_operation_callback(9)
• decode_from_super_block(9)
• decode_vdo(9)
• pre_load_callback(9)
• get_bit_array_size(9)
• grow_bit_array(9)
• check_may_grow_physical(9)
• grow_layout(9)
• validate_new_device_config(9)
• write_super_block_for_suspend(9)
• suspend_callback(9)
• was_new(9)
• requires_repair(9)
• get_load_type(9)
• load_callback(9)
• handle_load_error(9)
• write_super_block_for_resume(9)
• resume_callback(9)
• grow_logical_callback(9)
• handle_logical_growth_error(9)
• perform_grow_logical(9)
• copy_partition(9)
• grow_physical_callback(9)
• handle_physical_growth_error(9)
• perform_grow_physical(9)
• apply_new_vdo_configuration(9)

like I said. a whole squad. iykyk. 💀🌸

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and that's the page!! mwah 💋 — sign-off time: this came from ./drivers/md/dm-vdo, dated October 2026, and it's allocate_instance(9) forever and always. go hold that lock and get your number, bestie 🧚💖