rtl83xx_probe(9)

🌸 rtl83xx_probe(9) — Kernel API Manual, bestie edition 🌸

okay so you're in the kernel API manual, section 9, and today's main character is rtl83xx_probe 💅

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✨ NAME ✨

rtl83xx_probe — probe a Realtek switch. that's it, that's the vibe 🎀

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🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

struct realtek_priv * rtl83xx_probe (struct device *dev , const struct
realtek_interface_info *interface_info );

like, she takes a device and some interface info and hands you back a struct realtek_priv * 🫶

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🌸 ARGUMENTS 🌸

• dev — the device being probed. yes, that one. the device. 💖
• interface_info — the specific management interface info. specific! not vague! don't come at her with vibes, she wants specific management interface info ✨

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💜 DESCRIPTION 💜

so what she actually does: this function initializes realtek_priv and reads data from the device tree node. iconic behavior, no notes 🔥

also, the switch is hard resetted if a method is provided. like, full factory-reset energy. if a method is provided, bestie — that's the condition, don't forget it 💀

and here's the part that's genuinely a gift: the realtek_priv pointer does not need to be freed, because it is controlled by devres. so put the free() down, step away from the free(), she's got it handled 🙈🫶

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🧚 CONTEXT 🧚

Can sleep. 😴 that's the whole section. she naps. plan accordingly — don't be calling her from somewhere that can't sleep, iykyk 💅

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⭐ RETURN ⭐

Pointer to the realtek_priv on the win 🎉 or ERR_PTR in case of failure 😭 — so like, always be checking, fr fr.

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🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

Kernel file ./drivers/net/dsa/realtek/rtl83xx.c, plus the whole friend group:

• rtl83xx_lock(9)
• rtl83xx_unlock(9)
• rtl83xx_setup_user_mdio(9)
• rtl83xx_register_switch(9)
• rtl83xx_unregister_switch(9)
• rtl83xx_shutdown(9)
• rtl83xx_remove(9)
• rtl83xx_port_bridge_join(9)
• rtl83xx_port_bridge_leave(9)
• rtl83xx_port_fast_age(9)
• rtl83xx_port_fdb_add(9)
• rtl83xx_port_fdb_del(9)
• rtl83xx_port_fdb_dump(9)
• rtl83xx_port_mdb_add(9)
• rtl83xx_port_mdb_del(9)
• rtl83xx_port_bridge_flags(9)
• rtl83xx_setup_port_flood_control(9)

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that's the page!! mwah 💋 this one lives in ./drivers/net/dsa/realtek, dated October 2026, and it's rtl83xx_probe(9) all the way down. go probe something, bestie, and remember: devres has your back 🎀✨