ata_sff_data_xfer(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

💅 ata_sff_data_xfer 💅

okay so we're in the Kernel API Manual, section 9, and today's main character is ata_sff_data_xfer — the little function that literally moves your bytes around. it's giving "unsung hero of PIO" and honestly? obsessed 🫶

✨ NAME ✨

ata_sff_data_xfer — transfer data by PIO 💾✨

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

unsigned int ata_sff_data_xfer (struct ata_queued_cmd *qc , unsigned
       char *buf , unsigned int buflen , int rw );

like, she takes four things and gives you back an unsigned int, no cap 🎀

🦋 ARGUMENTS 🦋

  • qc — the queued command, bestie. the whole vibe of what's happening rn.
  • buf — the data buffer. this is where the bytes live, it's their home 🏠
  • buflen — buffer length, aka how much of that buffer we're actually messing with.
  • rw — read/write. are we pulling data out or pushing it in? that's the question 💅

🧚 DESCRIPTION 🧚

so basically: transfer data from/to the device data register by PIO. that's it, that's the whole job, and she does it flawlessly ✨

LOCKING: inherited from caller 😌 — meaning the lock situation is not her problem, she got it from whoever called her. she's not doing the locking herself, periodt.

👑 RETURN 👑

Bytes consumed. 🔥 that's the number you get back — how many bytes she actually chewed through. slay.

🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

Kernel file ./drivers/ata/libata-sff.c — go read it, iykyk 💜

and now, the friend group 💖 (all in (9), all iconic):

that's the whole page, bestie, every single reference accounted for 💜✨

this little love letter came out of ./drivers/ata, dated October 2026, straight from the Kernel API Manual — mwah, go forth and PIO 🎀💖

📦 where this page comes from