set_ptes(9)

💅 set_ptes(9) — like, the kernel API manual, bestie ✨

Okay so welcome to the set_ptes(9) page from the Kernel API Manual — grab a strawberry 🍓 and let's get into it, because this one is genuinely iconic if you're into page tables (and you are, or you wouldn't be here).

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🌸 NAME 🌸

set_ptes — map consecutive pages to a contiguous range of addresses. That's the whole vibe. Consecutive pages, contiguous addresses, no cap. 🫶

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

void set_ptes (struct mm_struct *mm , unsigned long addr , pte_t *ptep ,
pte_t pte , unsigned int nr );

She takes five things and returns nothing (void, queen of not needing to prove anything 💅).

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🎀 ARGUMENTS 🎀

• mm — the address space you're mapping the pages into. The whole neighborhood, basically.
• addr — the address where the first page goes. Everyone else lines up behind her.
• ptep — page table pointer for the first entry. Your starting point, your main character position.
• pte — the page table entry for the first page. The blueprint.
• nr — number of pages to map. How many besties are we bringing.

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🔥 DESCRIPTION 🔥

Okay so here's the tea, and it's important tea, so read carefully pookie:

When nr==1, the initial state of pte may be present or not present, and the new state may be present or not present. Free and easy. Lowkey the chill case.

When nr>1, the initial state of all the ptes must be not present, and the new state must be present. No exceptions. That's the rule, fr fr. 😤

Also — this function may be overridden by the architecture, or the architecture can define set_pte and PFN_PTE_SHIFT. So like, your arch might have opinions. Respect them. 🧚

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💀 CONTEXT 💀

Three things you need to know before you call her, and yes they're all mandatory:

• The caller holds the page table lock.
• The pages all belong to the same folio.
• The PTEs are all in the same PMD.

Squad requirements. Don't show up without them. 🎯

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👑 SEE ALSO 👑

Kernel file ./include/linux/pgtable.h, plus this absolute friend group right here — go say hi to all of them:

• lazy_mmu_mode_enable(9)
• lazy_mmu_mode_disable(9)
• __task_lazy_mmu_mode_pause(9)
• lazy_mmu_mode_pause(9)
• __task_lazy_mmu_mode_resume(9)
• lazy_mmu_mode_resume(9)
• pte_batch_hint(9)
• clear_young_dirty_ptes(9)
• get_and_clear_full_ptes(9)
• get_and_clear_ptes(9)
• clear_full_ptes(9)
• clear_ptes(9)
• clear_nonpresent_ptes(9)
• ptep_try_set(9)
• flush_tlb_before_set(9)
• wrprotect_ptes(9)
• clear_flush_young_ptes(9)
• test_and_clear_young_ptes(9)
• modify_prot_start_ptes(9)
• modify_prot_commit_ptes(9)
• pfnmap_setup_cachemode(9)
• pfnmap_track(9)
• pfnmap_untrack(9)
• pfnmap_setup_cachemode_pfn(9)

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and that's the page, bestie 🌈 This one lives under ./include/linux and the doc crew stamped it October 2026 — so yeah, go map those consecutive pages, stay in your folio, and don't forget the lock. mwah 💖🦋