ixgbe_read_...bang_generic(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

✨ ixgbe_read_...bang_generic ✨

okay so real talk, this page comes out of the Kernel API Manual, section 9 (that's the fun section, the kernel-functions section, iykyk), and the page is literally named ixgbe_read_...bang_generic — and yes, the dots are part of the name, they're not me being lazy, that's just how the man page renders it 💅

🌸 NAME 🌸

ixgbe_read_eeprom_buffer_bit_bang_generic — Read EEPROM using bit-bang

like, that's the whole vibe. we're reading the EEPROM and we're doing it with bit-bang. iconic behavior honestly 🫶

🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

int ixgbe_read_eeprom_buffer_bit_bang_generic (struct ixgbe_hw *hw , u16
offset , u16 words , u16 *data );

it returns an int bestie, and it takes four things. we'll get to them, don't rush me 😭

🎀 ARGUMENTS 🎀

  • hw — pointer to hardware structure. it's a struct ixgbe_hw *, it's the main character of this whole function, everything goes through it ✨
  • offset — offset within the EEPROM to be read. a u16, telling us where in the EEPROM we're poking around 🔍
  • words — number of word(s). also a u16. yes, the man page really says "word(s)", I'm not making that up 🍓
  • data — read 16 bit words(s) from EEPROM. it's a u16 *, so it's the buffer the words land in when we're done 💖

💜 DESCRIPTION 💜

Reads 16 bit word(s) from EEPROM through bit-bang method.

that's it, that's the whole description, and honestly? she said what she said. 16-bit words, EEPROM, bit-bang method, no notes 👑

side note from me to you: bit-bang means we're wiggling the pins by hand instead of using a fancy dedicated controller. it's giving "doing it manually but with swagger" 💀 but fr fr, the page just says the bit-bang method and I'm not gonna invent extra lore about it 🙈

🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

okay this is the part where the man page just dumps the entire friend group on you and honestly I respect it. here's everybody, no cap, all of them:

🫶 the file she lives in

  • ./drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_common.c — that's the kernel file, go say hi

🔥 flow control & autoneg besties

⭐ hw bring-up & teardown crew

✨ led girlies (they're glowing, literally)

🍓 the EEPROM squad (our people, obviously)

💖 mac addr / rar / mta / vlan crew

🧚 pcie, sync, rx & general chaos

👑 firmware & host interface energy

so yeah, that's the whole extended family. go read all 94 of them if you're feeling feral, I believe in you 🫶

okay and before you close the tab — the footer on this page says the source/version is ./drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i... (yeah it's truncated, the man page did that, not me 🙈) and the date is October 2026, and the page itself is ixgbe_read_...bang_generic(9) in the Kernel API Manual. mwah, go read some EEPROM bestie 💖✨🎀

📦 where this page comes from