netif_receive_skb_core(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

💅 netif_receive_skb_core(9) — like, the Kernel API Manual edition 🎀

okay bestie, so this is netif_receive_skb_core — it's giving "special purpose version of netif_receive_skb" and honestly? iconic but niche. she's not for everybody. read the vibes below before you call her fr fr ✨

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

int netif_receive_skb_core (struct sk_buff *skb );

🦋 ARGUMENTS 🦋

  • skb — the buffer to process, bestie. that's the one. hand it over and let her cook 💅

✨ DESCRIPTION ✨

So this is the more direct receive version of netif_receive_skb. Like, she skips the line and walks straight in. main character energy, no cap 👑

She should only be used by callers that have a genuine need to skip RPS and Generic XDP — that's not a suggestion, that's the whole vibe check. if you don't need to skip those, why are you here? 🙈

The caller must also take care of handling if (page_is_)pfmemalloc. yes queen, that's on you. she's not doing it for you 💀

⚠️ Rule time: this function may only be called from softirq context, and interrupts should be enabled. break that and it's not cute, it's a crash 😭

Return values (which are usually ignored, ngl):

  • NET_RX_SUCCESS — no congestion, slay 🎉
  • NET_RX_DROP — packet was dropped, rip to that packet 🪦

💜 SEE ALSO 💜

okay this list is long long, but we don't skip anyone in this house. also peep the kernel file: ./net/core/dev.c 🫶

that's the whole page bestie, go forth and receive those skbs responsibly 🌈👑

💖 mwah 💖 — sourced straight from ./net/core, dated October 2026, and yes she's still filed under netif_receive_skb_core(9) 🎀✨

📦 where this page comes from