STRUCT SKB_FRAME_DESC(9)

💅 struct skb_frame_desc(9) 💅

okay so bestie, welcome to struct skb_frame_desc — literally the descriptor-info situation for the skb buffer. it's in the Kernel API Manual, and it's giving "small struct, big responsibilities" energy. 🎀

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✨ NAME ✨

struct skb_frame_desc — descriptor information for the skb buffer. that's it, that's the whole vibe. 🦋

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🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

struct skb_frame_desc {
    u8 flags;
    u8 desc_len;
    u8 tx_rate_idx;
    u8 tx_rate_flags;
    void *desc;
    __le32 iv[2];
    dma_addr_t skb_dma;
    struct ieee80211_sta *sta;
 };

no cap, that's the whole thing. now let's meet the members 🫶

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👑 Members 👑

• flags — the frame flags, okurrr. see enum skb_frame_desc_flags for the whole lore.
• desc_len — length of the frame descriptor. it's the desc's length. iconic of it.
• tx_rate_idx — the index of the TX rate, and it's used for TX status reporting 💅
• tx_rate_flags — the TX rate flags, also used for TX status reporting. twins fr fr.
• desc — pointer to the descriptor part of the frame. ⚠️ heads up bestie: this pointer could point to something outside of the scope of the skb->data pointer. so like… don't assume it lives inside skb->data, because it does not. be careful out there 😭
• iv — the IV/EIV data used during encryption/decryption. little __le32 iv[2] doing crypto duties 🔥
• skb_dma — (PCI-only!) the DMA address associated with the sk buffer. PCI-only, so don't come looking for it elsewhere 🙈
• sta — the station where the sk buffer was sent. main character station energy ⭐

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💖 Description 💖

okay so here's the tea: this structure gets placed over the driver_data array. and that means — literally means — this structure should not exceed the size of that array, which is 40 bytes. that's the budget. 40 bytes. don't be greedy, don't overflow it, that's the whole deal 💀

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🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

the whole friend group, gathered for you 🧚:

• Kernel file ./drivers/net/wireless/ralink/rt2x00/rt2x00queue.h
• Entry frame size(9)
• enum data_queue_qid(9)
• enum skb_frame_desc_flags(9)
• get_skb_frame_desc(9)
• enum rxdone_entry_desc_flags(9)
• RXDONE_SIGNAL_MASK(9)
• struct rxdone_entry_desc(9)
• enum txdone_entry_desc_flags(9)
• struct txdone_entry_desc(9)
• enum txentry_desc_flags(9)
• struct txentry_desc(9)
• enum queue_entry_flags(9)
• struct queue_entry(9)
• enum queue_index(9)
• enum data_queue_flags(9)
• struct data_queue(9)
• queue_end(9)
• tx_queue_end(9)
• queue_next(9)
• queue_loop(9)
• queue_for_each(9)
• tx_queue_for_each(9)
• txall_queue_for_each(9)
• rt2x00queue_for_each_entry(9)
• rt2x00queue_empty(9)
• rt2x00queue_full(9)
• rt2x00queue_threshold(9)
• rt2x00queue_dma_timeout(9)
• _rt2x00_desc_read(9)
• rt2x00_desc_read(9)
• rt2x00_desc_write(9)

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bestie reminder: desc may point outside skb->data's scope, and this whole struct has to fit in 40 bytes. those two facts are the ones that will get you. 🍓

and that's the page!! mwah 💜 this came from ./drivers/net/wireless/ralink/..., dated October 2026 — go off, kernel docs, you ate. ✨🎀