batadv_forw...t_list_steal(9)

💖 NAME 💖

okay so, hi bestie, this is batadv_forw...t_list_steal(9) straight out of the Kernel API Manual, and the whole vibe is: batadv_forw_packet_list_steal — it claims a list of forward packets so they can get free()'d. that's it, that's the job. 🫶

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

void batadv_forw_packet_list_steal (struct hlist_head *forw_list ,
struct hlist_head *cleanup_list , const struct batadv_hard_iface
*hard_iface );

no cap, that's the whole signature — copy it exactly, she's particular about her types 💅

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🎀 ARGUMENTS 🎀

• forw_list — the forward packets that are about to get stolen. yes, stolen. it's giving heist movie 🦋
• cleanup_list — a backup pointer, so you can still dispose of the packet later. literally the safety net, keep her close 🙈
• hard_iface — the interface you're stealing forward packets from.

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🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

so here's the tea: this function claims responsibility to free any forw_packet queued up on the given hard_iface. like, it's volunteering as tribute 😭

and if hard_iface is NULL? bestie, it goes wide — forwarding packets on all hard interfaces will be claimed. main character energy, no interface left behind 👑

the packets are being moved from the forw_list to the cleanup_list. and bestie, that move is the whole point — it makes it possible for already running threads to notice the claim. the way that concurrency works is genuinely iconic ⭐

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🦋 SEE ALSO 🦋

it all lives in the Kernel file ./net/batman-adv/send.c, and the whole friend group is here:

• batadv_send_skb_packet(9)
• batadv_send_broadcast_skb(9)
• batadv_send_unicast_skb(9)
• batadv_send_skb_to_orig(9)
• batadv_send_skb_push_fill_unicast(9)
• batadv_send_skb_prepare_unicast(9)
• batadv_send_skb_prepare_unicast_4addr(9)
• batadv_send_skb_unicast(9)
• batadv_send_skb_via_tt_generic(9)
• batadv_send_skb_via_gw(9)
• batadv_forw_packet_free(9)
• batadv_forw_packet_alloc(9)
• batadv_forw_packet_was_stolen(9)
• batadv_forw_packet_steal(9)
• batadv_forw_packet_list_free(9)
• batadv_forw_packet_queue(9)
• batadv_forw_packet_bcast_queue(9)
• batadv_forw_packet_ogmv1_queue(9)
• batadv_forw_bcast_packet_to_list(9)
• batadv_forw_bcast_packet_if(9)
• batadv_send_no_broadcast(9)
• __batadv_forw_bcast_packet(9)
• batadv_forw_bcast_packet(9)
• batadv_send_bcast_packet(9)
• batadv_forw_packet_bcasts_left(9)
• batadv_forw_packet_bcasts_dec(9)
• batadv_forw_packet_is_rebroadcast(9)
• batadv_send_outstanding_bcast_packet(9)
• batadv_purge_outstanding_packets(9)

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ngl bestie, if you're poking at forwarding packets from multiple threads, read the steal / was_stolen pair before you do anything. the claim is only visible because the packets got moved — that's the whole trick 🧚

and that's the page!! mwah 💜 this one's from ./net/batman-adv, dated October 2026, filed under batadv_forw...t_list_steal(9) — go forth and steal responsibly, queen 🍓✨