nlmsg_unicast(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

okay so welcome to the Kernel API Manual, bestie 🫶 this page is about nlmsg_unicast, and yes it is exactly as iconic as it sounds. we're sending one (1) netlink message to one (1) destination socket, and honestly? that's the whole personality. ✨

🌸 NAME

nlmsg_unicast — unicast a netlink message 💌

✨ SYNOPSIS

int nlmsg_unicast (struct sock *sk , struct sk_buff *skb , u32 portid );

that's it. that's the whole call. three arguments, no cap. 🔥

🎀 ARGUMENTS

  • sk — the netlink socket you're spreading the message to 🌈 (yes, the manpage literally says "spread message to", we love a generous queen)
  • skb — the netlink message itself, in its socket buffer era 🦋 it's giving "payload with main character energy"
  • portid — the netlink portid of the destination socket 👑 like, the exact door we're knocking on. one door. not a group chat. unicast, periodt.

👑 SEE ALSO

okay so there's a whole friend group here, and I'm not leaving anybody out. 💖 The kernel file to know about is ./include/net/netlink.h, and these are the besties:

the nlmsg_ girlies ate that, fr fr 💅 and now the nla_ crew:

look at that nla_put_ run 😭 every width, every sign, every endianness — she's thorough and we respect it. 🧚 and the nla_get_ squad, matching energy:

and the rest of the crew, still in formation, no one left behind 🎀

lowkey obsessed with how nla_is_last(9) is literally just vibing at the end of the list. iykyk 💀

okay that's the page!! go unicast responsibly, bestie 💜

mwah 💋 this one came from the kernel source tree at ./include/net, dated October 2026 — see you in the next (9) page, love u, bye!! 🌸💖✨

📦 where this page comes from