STRUCT CFG80211_BSS(9)

💖 NAME 💖

okay bestie, this is the struct cfg80211_bss page from the Kernel API Manual, section 9 — and it's literally the BSS description struct. Iconic. ✨

🌈 SYNOPSIS 🌈

fr fr, here's the whole struct exactly:

struct cfg80211_bss {
    struct ieee80211_channel *channel;
    const struct cfg80211_bss_ies *ies;
    const struct cfg80211_bss_ies *beacon_ies;
    const struct cfg80211_bss_ies *proberesp_ies;
    struct cfg80211_bss *hidden_beacon_bss;
    struct cfg80211_bss *transmitted_bss;
    struct list_head nontrans_list;
    s32 signal;
    u64 ts_boottime;
    u16 beacon_interval;
    u16 capability;
    u8 bssid[ETH_ALEN];
    u8 chains;
    s8 chain_signal[IEEE80211_MAX_CHAINS];
    u8 proberesp_ecsa_stuck:1;
    u8 bssid_index;
    u8 max_bssid_indicator;
    u8 use_for;
    u8 cannot_use_reasons;
    u8 priv[];
};

🎀 MEMBERS 🎀

channel — the channel this BSS is on. 🦋
ies — the information elements (Note that there is no guarantee that these are well-formed!); this is a pointer to either the beacon_ies or proberesp_ies depending on whether Probe Response frame has been received. It is always non-NULL. 💅
beacon_ies — the information elements from the last Beacon frame. implementation note: if hidden_beacon_bss is set this struct doesn't own the beacon_ies, but they're just pointers to the ones from the hidden_beacon_bss struct. 🎀
proberesp_ies — the information elements from the last Probe Response frame. ✨
hidden_beacon_bss — in case this BSS struct represents a probe response from a BSS that hides the SSID in its beacon, this points to the BSS struct that holds the beacon data. beacon_ies is still valid, of course, and points to the same data as hidden_beacon_bss->beacon_ies in that case. 🫶
transmitted_bss — pointer to the transmitted BSS, if this is a non-transmitted one (multi-BSSID support). 👑
nontrans_list — list of non-transmitted BSS, if this is a transmitted one (multi-BSSID support). 🌸
signal — signal strength value (type depends on the wiphy's signal_type). 🔥
ts_boottime — timestamp of the last BSS update in nanoseconds since boot. ⭐
beacon_interval — the beacon interval as from the frame. 🧚
capability — the capability field in host byte order. 💜
bssid — BSSID of the BSS. 🌈
chains — bitmask for filled values in chain_signal. 💫
chain_signal — per-chain signal strength of last received BSS in dBm. 🍓
proberesp_ecsa_stuck — ECSA element is stuck in the Probe Response frame, cannot rely on it having valid data. 😭
bssid_index — index in the multiple BSS set. 🎀
max_bssid_indicator — max number of members in the BSS set. 💖
use_for — bitmap of possible usage for this BSS, see enum nl80211_bss_use_for. ✨
cannot_use_reasons — the reasons (bitmap) for not being able to connect, if restrict_use is set and use_for is zero (empty); may be 0 for unspecified reasons; see enum nl80211_bss_cannot_use_reasons. 💅
priv — private area for driver use, has at least wiphy->bss_priv_size bytes. 🦋

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

This structure describes a BSS (which may also be a mesh network) for use in scan results and similar. lowkey essential, highkey the moment. 👑

✨ SEE ALSO ✨

Okay bestie, the SEE ALSO list is basically the extended cinematic universe of this page—do not skip it, it’s giving “the group chat literally has 300 members and somehow they’re all relevant.” 💅

Start with the Kernel file ./include/net/cfg80211.h, then Introduction(9), Device registration(9), enum ieee80211_channel_flags(9), struct ieee80211_channel(9), enum ieee80211_rate_flags(9), enum ieee80211_bss_type(9), enum ieee80211_privacy(9), struct ieee80211_rate(9), struct ieee80211_he_obss_pd(9), struct cfg80211_he_bss_color(9), struct ieee80211_sta_ht_cap(9), struct ieee80211_sta_vht_cap(9), struct ieee80211_sta_he_cap(9), struct ieee80211_eht_mcs_nss_supp(9), struct ieee80211_sta_eht_cap(9), struct ieee80211_sta_uhr_cap(9), struct ieee80211_sband_iftype_data(9), enum ieee80211_edmg_bw_config(9), struct ieee80211_edmg(9), struct ieee80211_sta_s1g_cap(9), struct ieee80211_supported_band(9), _ieee80211_set_sband_iftype_data(9), ieee80211_set_sband_iftype_data(9), for_each_sband_iftype_data(9), ieee80211_get_sband_iftype_data(9), ieee80211_get_he_iftype_cap(9), ieee80211_get_he_6ghz_capa(9), ieee80211_get_eht_iftype_cap(9), ieee80211_get_uhr_iftype_cap(9), wiphy_read_of_freq_limits(9), Actions and configuration(9).

Next up, the survey / crypto / AP-settings corner of the universe: enum survey_info_flags(9), struct survey_info(9), struct cfg80211_crypto_settings(9), struct cfg80211_mbssid_config(9), struct cfg80211_mbssid_elems(9), struct cfg80211_rnr_elems(9), struct cfg80211_beacon_data(9), struct cfg80211_acl_data(9), struct cfg80211_fils_discovery(9), struct cfg80211_unsol_bcast_probe_resp(9), struct cfg80211_s1g_short_beacon(9), struct cfg80211_ap_settings(9), struct cfg80211_ap_update(9), struct cfg80211_csa_settings(9), struct cfg80211_color_change_settings(9), struct iface_combination_params(9), enum station_parameters_apply_mask(9), struct sta_txpwr(9), struct link_station_parameters(9), struct link_station_del_parameters(9), struct cfg80211_ttlm_params(9), struct station_parameters(9), struct station_del_parameters(9), enum cfg80211_station_type(9), cfg80211_check_station_change(9), enum rate_info_flags(9), enum rate_info_bw(9), struct rate_info(9), enum bss_param_flags(9), struct sta_bss_parameters(9), struct cfg80211_txq_stats(9), struct cfg80211_tid_stats(9), struct link_station_info(9), struct station_info(9), struct cfg80211_sar_sub_specs(9), struct cfg80211_sar_specs(9), struct cfg80211_sar_freq_ranges(9), struct cfg80211_sar_capa(9), cfg80211_get_station(9), enum monitor_flags(9), enum mpath_info_flags(9), struct mpath_info(9), enum wiphy_bss_param_flags(9), struct bss_parameters(9), struct mesh_config(9), struct mesh_setup(9), struct ocb_setup(9), struct ieee80211_txq_params(9), Scanning and BSS list handling(9).

Scanning and BSS-list besties, assemble: struct cfg80211_ssid(9), struct cfg80211_scan_info(9), struct cfg80211_scan_6ghz_params(9), struct cfg80211_scan_request(9), struct cfg80211_match_set(9), struct cfg80211_sched_scan_plan(9), struct cfg80211_bss_select_adjust(9), struct cfg80211_sched_scan_request(9), enum cfg80211_signal_type(9), struct cfg80211_inform_bss(9), struct cfg80211_bss_ies(9), ieee80211_bss_get_elem(9), ieee80211_bss_get_ie(9), struct cfg80211_auth_request(9), struct cfg80211_assoc_link(9), struct cfg80211_ml_reconf_req(9), enum cfg80211_assoc_req_flags(9), struct cfg80211_assoc_request(9), struct cfg80211_deauth_request(9), struct cfg80211_disassoc_request(9), struct cfg80211_ibss_params(9), struct cfg80211_bss_selection(9), struct cfg80211_connect_params(9), enum cfg80211_connect_params_changed(9), enum wiphy_params_flags(9), struct cfg80211_pmksa(9), struct cfg80211_pkt_pattern(9), struct cfg80211_wowlan_tcp(9), struct cfg80211_wowlan(9), struct cfg80211_coalesce_rules(9), struct cfg80211_coalesce(9), struct cfg80211_wowlan_nd_match(9), struct cfg80211_wowlan_nd_info(9), struct cfg80211_wowlan_wakeup(9), struct cfg80211_gtk_rekey_data(9), struct cfg80211_update_ft_ies_params(9), struct cfg80211_mgmt_tx_params(9), struct cfg80211_dscp_exception(9), struct cfg80211_dscp_range(9), struct cfg80211_qos_map(9), Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN)(9).

And the NAN squad is fully here: struct cfg80211_nan_band_config(9), struct cfg80211_nan_conf(9), struct cfg80211_nan_channel(9), struct cfg80211_nan_local_sched(9), struct cfg80211_nan_peer_map(9), struct cfg80211_nan_peer_sched(9), enum cfg80211_nan_conf_changes(9), struct cfg80211_nan_func_filter(9), struct cfg80211_nan_func(9), struct cfg80211_pmk_conf(9), struct cfg80211_external_auth_params(9), struct cfg80211_ftm_responder_stats(9), struct cfg80211_pmsr_ftm_result(9), struct cfg80211_pmsr_result(9), struct cfg80211_pmsr_ftm_request_peer(9), struct cfg80211_pmsr_request_peer(9), struct cfg80211_pmsr_request(9), struct cfg80211_update_owe_info(9), struct mgmt_frame_regs(9), struct cfg80211_ops(9), enum wiphy_flags(9), struct ieee80211_iface_limit(9), struct ieee80211_iface_combination(9), enum wiphy_wowlan_support_flags(9), struct wiphy_wowlan_support(9), struct wiphy_coalesce_support(9), enum wiphy_vendor_command_flags(9), enum wiphy_opmode_flag(9), struct sta_opmode_info(9), struct wiphy_vendor_command(9), struct wiphy_iftype_ext_capab(9), cfg80211_get_iftype_ext_capa(9), struct cfg80211_pmsr_capabilities(9), struct wiphy_iftype_akm_suites(9), struct wiphy_radio_cfg(9), struct wiphy_radio_freq_range(9), struct wiphy_radio(9), enum wiphy_nan_flags(9), struct wiphy_nan_capa(9), struct wiphy(9).

Then it’s wiphy-life support: wiphy_priv(9), priv_to_wiphy(9), set_wiphy_dev(9), wiphy_dev(9), wiphy_name(9), wiphy_new_nm(9), wiphy_new(9), wiphy_register(9), rcu_dereference_wiphy(9), wiphy_dereference(9), get_wiphy_regdom(9), wiphy_unregister(9), wiphy_free(9), wiphy_lock(9), wiphy_unlock(9), wiphy_work_queue(9), wiphy_work_cancel(9), wiphy_work_flush(9), wiphy_delayed_work_queue(9), wiphy_delayed_work_cancel(9), wiphy_delayed_work_flush(9), wiphy_delayed_work_pending(9), wiphy_hrtimer_work_queue(9), wiphy_hrtimer_work_cancel(9), wiphy_hrtimer_work_flush(9), wiphy_hrtimer_work_pending(9), enum ieee80211_ap_reg_power(9), struct wireless_dev(9), wdev_priv(9), wdev_chandef(9), Utility functions(9).

Utility-function era begins: ieee80211_channel_equal(9), ieee80211_channel_to_khz(9), ieee80211_channel_to_freq_khz(9), ieee80211_channel_to_frequency(9), ieee80211_freq_khz_to_channel(9), ieee80211_frequency_to_channel(9), ieee80211_get_channel_khz(9), ieee80211_get_channel(9), cfg80211_channel_is_psc(9), ieee80211_radio_freq_range_valid(9), cfg80211_radio_chandef_valid(9), cfg80211_wdev_channel_allowed(9), ieee80211_get_response_rate(9), ieee80211_mandatory_rates(9), struct ieee80211_radiotap_iterator(9), ieee80211_get_hdrlen_from_skb(9), ieee80211_hdrlen(9), ieee80211_get_mesh_hdrlen(9), Data path helpers(9).

Regulatory-core and BSS-index chaos: regulatory_hint(9), regulatory_set_wiphy_regd(9), regulatory_set_wiphy_regd_sync(9), wiphy_apply_custom_regulatory(9), freq_reg_info(9), reg_initiator_name(9), regulatory_pre_cac_allowed(9), Internal regulatory db functions(9), reg_query_regdb_wmm(9), cfg80211_scan_done(9), cfg80211_sched_scan_results(9), cfg80211_sched_scan_stopped(9), cfg80211_sched_scan_stopped_locked(9), cfg80211_inform_bss_frame_data(9), cfg80211_gen_new_bssid(9), cfg80211_is_element_inherited(9), cfg80211_merge_profile(9), enum cfg80211_bss_frame_type(9), cfg80211_get_ies_channel_number(9), cfg80211_ssid_eq(9), cfg80211_inform_bss_data(9), __cfg80211_get_bss(9), cfg80211_get_bss(9), cfg80211_ref_bss(9), cfg80211_put_bss(9), cfg80211_unlink_bss(9), cfg80211_bss_iter(9), cfg80211_rx_mlme_mgmt(9), cfg80211_auth_timeout(9), struct cfg80211_rx_assoc_resp_data(9), cfg80211_rx_assoc_resp(9), struct cfg80211_assoc_failure(9), cfg80211_assoc_failure(9), cfg80211_tx_mlme_mgmt(9), cfg80211_rx_unprot_mlme_mgmt(9), cfg80211_michael_mic_failure(9), cfg80211_ibss_joined(9), cfg80211_notify_new_peer_candidate(9), RFkill integration(9).

RFkill, vendor, test-mode, and connection-notification icons: wiphy_rfkill_set_hw_state_reason(9), wiphy_rfkill_start_polling(9), wiphy_rfkill_stop_polling(9), Vendor commands(9), cfg80211_vendor_cmd_alloc_reply_skb(9), cfg80211_vendor_cmd_reply(9), cfg80211_vendor_cmd_get_sender(9), cfg80211_vendor_event_alloc(9), cfg80211_vendor_event_alloc_ucast(9), cfg80211_vendor_event(9), Test mode(9), cfg80211_testmode_alloc_reply_skb(9), cfg80211_testmode_reply(9), cfg80211_testmode_alloc_event_skb(9), cfg80211_testmode_event(9), struct cfg80211_fils_resp_params(9), struct cfg80211_connect_resp_params(9), cfg80211_connect_done(9), cfg80211_connect_bss(9), cfg80211_connect_result(9), cfg80211_connect_timeout(9), struct cfg80211_roam_info(9), cfg80211_roamed(9), cfg80211_port_authorized(9), cfg80211_disconnected(9), cfg80211_ready_on_channel(9), cfg80211_remain_on_channel_expired(9), cfg80211_tx_mgmt_expired(9), cfg80211_sinfo_alloc_tid_stats(9), cfg80211_link_sinfo_alloc_tid_stats(9), cfg80211_sinfo_release_content(9), cfg80211_new_sta(9), cfg80211_del_sta_sinfo(9), cfg80211_del_sta(9), cfg80211_conn_failed(9), struct cfg80211_rx_info(9).

And the final stretch—still iconic, still part of the directory: cfg80211_rx_mgmt_ext(9), cfg80211_rx_mgmt_khz(9), cfg80211_rx_mgmt(9), struct cfg80211_tx_status(9), cfg80211_mgmt_tx_status_ext(9), cfg80211_mgmt_tx_status(9), cfg80211_control_port_tx_status(9), cfg80211_rx_control_port(9), cfg80211_cqm_rssi_notify(9), cfg80211_cqm_pktloss_notify(9), cfg80211_cqm_txe_notify(9), cfg80211_cqm_beacon_loss_notify(9), __cfg80211_radar_event(9), cfg80211_sta_opmode_change_notify(9), cfg80211_cac_event(9), cfg80211_background_cac_abort(9), cfg80211_gtk_rekey_notify(9), cfg80211_pmksa_candidate_notify(9), cfg80211_rx_spurious_frame(9), cfg80211_rx_unexpected_4addr_frame(9), cfg80211_probe_status(9), cfg80211_report_obss_beacon_khz(9), cfg80211_report_obss_beacon(9), struct cfg80211_beaconing_check_config(9),

…and yes, that trailing comma is just sitting there doing main-character things. 🫶

…and honestly the rest of the friend group shows up too, because struct cfg80211_bss hangs out with everyone. Roll call, in order, no skipping, bestie 💅:

cfg80211_reg_check_beaconing(9), cfg80211_reg_can_beacon(9), cfg80211_reg_can_beacon_relax(9), cfg80211_ch_switch_notify(9), cfg80211_ch_switch_started_notify(9), ieee80211_operating_class_to_band(9), ieee80211_operating_class_to_chandef(9), ieee80211_chandef_to_operating_class(9), ieee80211_chandef_to_khz(9), cfg80211_tdls_oper_request(9), cfg80211_calculate_bitrate(9), cfg80211_unregister_wdev(9), cfg80211_register_netdevice(9), cfg80211_unregister_netdevice(9), struct cfg80211_ft_event_params(9), cfg80211_ft_event(9), cfg80211_get_p2p_attr(9), ieee80211_ie_split_ric(9), ieee80211_ie_split(9), ieee80211_fragment_element(9), cfg80211_report_wowlan_wakeup(9), cfg80211_crit_proto_stopped(9), ieee80211_get_num_supported_channels(9), cfg80211_check_combinations(9), cfg80211_iter_combinations(9), cfg80211_get_radio_idx_by_chan(9), cfg80211_stop_link(9), cfg80211_stop_iface(9), cfg80211_shutdown_all_interfaces(9).

Still going — the iconic ones keep coming ✨:

wiphy_ext_feature_set(9), wiphy_ext_feature_isset(9), cfg80211_free_nan_func(9), struct cfg80211_nan_match_params(9), cfg80211_nan_match(9), cfg80211_nan_func_terminated(9), cfg80211_nan_sched_update_done(9), cfg80211_external_auth_request(9), cfg80211_pmsr_report(9), cfg80211_pmsr_complete(9), cfg80211_iftype_allowed(9), cfg80211_assoc_comeback(9), cfg80211_update_owe_info_event(9), cfg80211_bss_flush(9), cfg80211_bss_color_notify(9), cfg80211_obss_color_collision_notify(9), cfg80211_color_change_started_notify(9), cfg80211_color_change_aborted_notify(9), cfg80211_color_change_notify(9), cfg80211_6ghz_power_type(9), cfg80211_links_removed(9), struct cfg80211_mlo_reconf_done_data(9), cfg80211_mlo_reconf_add_done(9), cfg80211_schedule_channels_check(9), cfg80211_epcs_changed(9).

And the final stretch, we're so close, stay with me 🫶:

cfg80211_next_nan_dw_notif(9), cfg80211_nan_cluster_joined(9), cfg80211_nan_ulw_update(9), cfg80211_nan_channel_evac(9), wiphy_locked_debugfs_read(9), wiphy_locked_debugfs_write(9), cfg80211_s1g_get_start_freq_khz(9), cfg80211_s1g_get_end_freq_khz(9), cfg80211_s1g_get_primary_sibling(9), cfg80211_incumbent_signal_notify(9).

That's the whole group chat, no cap — every single one of them lives in the same (9) section universe as this page. Iykyk 💀

Okay so that's genuinely the end of the page, bestie. Nothing after this except the little footer bit 📎:

It says the source lives at ./include/net, the date stamp is October 2026, and the whole thing is filed under struct cfg80211_bss(9). So if you ever need to cite it, that's your vibe check info right there — slay, go forth and read your BSS structs 👑🦋💖

📦 where this page comes from

nixpkgs unstable: linux-manual 7.3.1
💖 girlified by deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash-1017 on 2026-11-04: a language model's rewrite of the original, under its terms