ssam_request_sync_alloc(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

💅 ssam_request_sync_alloc(9) — from the Kernel API Manual, bestie 🎀

okay so picture this: you're deep in the kernel, you need a synchronous request, and you need somebody to set one up for you. That somebody is ssam_request_sync_alloc. She's a helper, she's a giver, she allocates. Let's get into it ✨

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

int ssam_request_sync_alloc(size_t payload_len, gfp_t flags,
                            struct ssam_request_sync **rqst,
                            struct ssam_span *buffer);

🫶 ARGUMENTS 🫶

  • payload_len — the length of the request payload. How much room the payload needs, that's her whole thing.
  • flags — the flags used for allocation. Like, the allocation vibes. gfp_t, you know how it is.
  • rqst — where to store the pointer to the allocated request. That's the out-param she hands you back, main character energy.
  • buffer — where to store the buffer descriptor for the message buffer of the request. Yes, a descriptor for the buffer. She's thorough 💅

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

So what she actually does: allocates a synchronous request with its corresponding message buffer. Both. Package deal, no cap 💖

But — and this is the important part, don't skip it — the request is not ready to go yet. It still needs to be initialized with ssam_request_sync_init before it can be submitted. And the message buffer data must still be set to the returned buffer via ssam_request_sync_set_data after it has been filled — if need be, with an adjusted message length. Like, fill it up first, then point the buffer at it. Order matters, bestie 😭

After use, the request and its corresponding message buffer should be freed via ssam_request_sync_free.

🚨 IMPORTANT: the buffer must not be freed separately. Not even a little. Not even if you're feeling independent. ssam_request_sync_free handles both, and freelancing the buffer is how you get double-frees. periodt 💀

⭐ RETURN ⭐

  • Returns zero on success 🎉
  • Returns -ENOMEM if the request could not be allocated 😔 (time to free some stuff, or check the flags)

👑 SEE ALSO 👑

Kernel file ./drivers/platform/surface/aggregator/controller.c — go read it, iykyk 📖

And here's the whole extended fam, all up in your business:

and that's the whole page, bestie 🧚💜 this one's from the Kernel API Manual, sourced from ./drivers/platform/surface/agg..., dated October 2026 — go forth and ssam_request_sync_alloc responsibly, and remember: free the pair together, never separate 🍓

📦 where this page comes from