igb_read_mbx_pf(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

💌 igb_read_mbx_pf — a Kernel API Manual moment

okay so bestie, we're diving into igb_read_mbx_pf from the Kernel API Manual (that's the manual name, bestie, we're in the kernel docs now 💅) and honestly? it's giving "post office for network cards" energy. let's get into it ✨

✨ NAME ✨

igb_read_mbx_pf — Read a message from the mailbox 📬

like, literally just. reading a message. from a mailbox. iconic behaviour honestly.

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

s32 igb_read_mbx_pf (struct e1000_hw *hw , u32 *msg , u16 size , u16
vf_number , bool unlock );

that's the whole signature, copy it exactly, no cap 🫶

🎀 ARGUMENTS 🎀

  • hw — pointer to the HW structure. yeah, the hardware struct, she's the main character here 👑
  • msg — The message buffer. this is where the message goes, obviously 💌
  • size — Length of buffer. how much room msg has, don't overfill it bestie 😭
  • vf_number — the VF index. VF = virtual function, keep track of which one 🦋
  • unlock — unlock the mailbox when done? a literal yes/no, do you want the mailbox unlocked after or not 💅

💖 DESCRIPTION 💖

so what does she actually do? this function copies a message from the mailbox buffer into the caller's memory buffer. that's it. that's the whole vibe 🌈

the presumption here is that the caller already knows there was a message due to a VF request — so no polling for message is needed. like, you already got the notification babes, you don't need to keep refreshing the inbox 💀 no polling, no waiting, just grab it and go ⭐

lowkey important deet: this function assumes your caller knows what's up. if you're the one polling, you're in the wrong function, iykyk 🙈

🔥 SEE ALSO 🔥

the whole friend group, fr fr 🫶✨

and that's the page bestie!! sourced straight from the manual for ./drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb, dated October 2026 — those are the version/source deets and the date, mwah, go read your mailbox correctly 💋🎀🦋

📦 where this page comes from