i40e_read_nvm_buffer_srctl(9)

💖 i40e_read_nvm_buffer_srctl — Kernel API Manual 💖

okay so bestie, gather round, because we're diving into the Intel i40e NVM code today and honestly? it's giving "tiny function, big responsibilities." this is the i40e_read_nvm_buffer_srctl page from the Kernel API Manual, and I'm gonna walk you through it like we're texting at 2am. no cap, every single detail is staying. 🫶

---

✨ NAME ✨

i40e_read_nvm_buffer_srctl — literally just "Reads Shadow RAM buffer via SRCTL register." that's the whole vibe. shadow RAM, SRCTL register, reading a buffer. iconic behavior tbh. 💅

---

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

int i40e_read_nvm_buffer_srctl (struct i40e_hw *hw , u16 offset , u16
*words , u16 *data );

so it returns an int (iykyk, kernel functions love returning ints) and it takes four args. keep reading, we're getting to each one, don't worry. 🦋

---

🎀 ARGUMENTS 🎀

• hw — pointer to the HW structure. like, the hardware context, the main character of this whole situation. 👑
• offset — offset of the Shadow RAM word to read. the valid range is 0x000000 – 0x001FFF, and yes that's a real range, memorize it or at least don't go outside it. ⭐
• words — this one's a double agent bestie: (in) it's the number of words you want to read, and (out) it gets set to the number of words actually read. so it's both the ask and the answer. the way that it does two jobs… 💀
• data — the words read from the Shadow RAM. your actual output buffer, the payload, the reason we're all here. 🍓

---

💜 DESCRIPTION 💜

so what does it do? it reads 16 bit words (aka the data buffer) from the SR using the i40e_read_nvm_srrd method. and because the kernel is a whole ecosystem of etiquette, the buffer read is preceded by the NVM ownership take, and followed by the release. so like: grab the NVM, read your words, let go of the NVM. clean, polite, no drama. periodt. ✨

ngl bestie, the "take ownership / release ownership" sandwich is the key detail here — that's the whole structural vibe of the function. don't skip it. 🧚

---

🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

these are the sibling functions, the extended universe, the lore:

• Kernel file ./drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_nvm.c — the actual file, go read it, it's right there. 🔥

and the friend group:

• i40e_init_nvm(9)
• i40e_acquire_nvm(9)
• i40e_release_nvm(9)
• i40e_poll_sr_srctl_done_bit(9)
• i40e_read_nvm_word_srctl(9)
• i40e_read_nvm_aq(9)
• i40e_read_nvm_word_aq(9)
• __i40e_read_nvm_word(9)
• i40e_read_nvm_word(9)
• i40e_read_nvm_module_data(9)
• i40e_read_nvm_buffer_aq(9)
• __i40e_read_nvm_buffer(9)
• i40e_read_nvm_buffer(9)
• i40e_write_nvm_aq(9)
• i40e_calc_nvm_checksum(9)
• i40e_update_nvm_checksum(9)
• i40e_validate_nvm_checksum(9)
• i40e_nvmupd_validate_command(9)
• i40e_nvmupd_nvm_erase(9)
• i40e_nvmupd_nvm_write(9)
• i40e_nvmupd_nvm_read(9)
• i40e_nvmupd_exec_aq(9)
• i40e_nvmupd_get_aq_result(9)
• i40e_nvmupd_get_aq_event(9)
• i40e_nvmupd_state_init(9)
• i40e_nvmupd_state_reading(9)
• i40e_nvmupd_state_writing(9)
• i40e_nvmupd_command(9)
• i40e_nvmupd_clear_wait_state(9)
• i40e_nvmupd_check_wait_event(9)

that's a whole roster, bestie. go explore, i'm obsessed. 💖

---

and that's the page!! this lil manual lives at ./drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e, dated October 2026, and it's for i40e_read_nvm_buffer_srctl(9). mwah, slay, go read some shadow RAM responsibly. 💅✨🎀