genlmsg_unicast(9)

💌 genlmsg_unicast — a Kernel API Manual moment (section 9, bestie)

okay so real talk, we're deep in the Kernel API Manual, section 9, and today's main character is genlmsg_unicast. she's a little function with one job and she does it flawlessly. no cap. 🎀

---

✨ NAME ✨

genlmsg_unicast — unicast a netlink message 💅

like… she sends one (1) message to one (1) specific destination. no group chat, no broadcast, just a private DM. iconic behaviour honestly. 🦋

---

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

int genlmsg_unicast (struct net *net , struct sk_buff *skb , u32 portid
);

three arguments, one int coming back at you. the way that signature just sits there being all neat and C-shaped. 🫶

---

💖 ARGUMENTS 💖

• net — the network namespace where we go look up portid, bestie. it's giving "which world are we searching in" energy. 🌈
• skb — the netlink message itself, chillin' in there as a socket buffer. literal message in a bottle. 🍓
• portid — the netlink portid of the destination socket. aka the address of the bestie receiving this DM. 📬

like, that's it. three little params. clean. immaculate. no notes. ✨

---

👑 SEE ALSO 👑

okay so she does not roll alone — look at this friend group, it's a whole ensemble cast, and every single one is listed in the Kernel file ./include/net/genetlink.h:

• struct genl_multicast_group(9)
• struct genl_family(9)
• struct genl_info(9)
• struct genl_small_ops(9)
• struct genl_ops(9)
• struct genl_split_ops(9)
• struct genl_dumpit_info(9)
• genl_info_init_ntf(9)
• genlmsg_iput(9)
• genlmsg_nlhdr(9)
• genlmsg_parse_deprecated(9)
• genlmsg_parse(9)
• genl_dump_check_consistent(9)
• genlmsg_put_reply(9)
• genlmsg_end(9)
• genlmsg_cancel(9)
• genlmsg_multicast_netns_filtered(9)
• genlmsg_multicast_netns(9)
• genlmsg_multicast(9)
• genlmsg_multicast_allns(9)
• genlmsg_reply(9)
• genlmsg_data(9)
• genlmsg_len(9)
• genlmsg_msg_size(9)
• genlmsg_total_size(9)
• genlmsg_new(9)
• genl_set_err(9)

the way that list just keeps going 😭 that's a squad. iykyk. 💀

---

lowkey reminder: those are all the (9) pages hanging out in ./include/net/genetlink.h — go read them, they're all part of the same netlink family lore. 📚

---

and that's the whole page, bestie — nothing skipped, nothing invented, all facts intact and thriving. 💜

signed off with love, from source ./include/net, dated October 2026, brought to you by genlmsg_unicast(9) 🧚‍♀️⭐