STRUCT TIPC_BEARER(9)

💖 struct tipc_bearer(9) 💖

okay so bestie, welcome to the Kernel API Manual — we're talking about struct tipc_bearer, the generic TIPC bearer structure. it's giving "the blueprint for how TIPC actually gets out into the world" and honestly? iconic. let's get into it 🎀

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

no cap, here's the whole thing exactly as it lives in the kernel:

struct tipc_bearer {
    void *media_ptr;
    u32 mtu;
    struct tipc_media_addr addr;
    char name[TIPC_MAX_BEARER_NAME];
    struct tipc_media *media;
    struct tipc_media_addr bcast_addr;
    struct packet_type pt;
    struct rcu_head rcu;
    u32 priority;
    u32 min_win;
    u32 max_win;
    u32 tolerance;
    u32 domain;
    u32 identity;
    struct tipc_discoverer *disc;
    char net_plane;
    u16 encap_hlen;
    unsigned long up;
    refcount_t refcnt;
 };

look at her. nineteen fields. main character energy fr fr 🌟

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🌸 Members 🌸

let's go field by field, bestie, no skipping, we're doing the whole tour 💅

• media_ptr — pointer to additional media-specific information about the bearer. extra lore, basically 🦋
• mtu — max packet size this bearer can support. keep it under this or it's not gonna fly ✨
• addr — the media-specific address associated with the bearer. where the bearer lives, address-wise 💌
• name — the bearer name, and the format is media:interface (yes, exactly like that, with the colon 🫶)
• media — ptr to the media structure associated with the bearer. her partner in crime 💜
• bcast_addr — the media address used in broadcasting. for when you need to yell at everyone 📢
• pt — packet type for the bearer 🎀
• rcu — rcu struct for tipc_bearer. the RCU bookkeeping, lowkey essential 😭
• priority — default link priority for the bearer. ✨ priorities ✨
• min_win — minimum window (in packets) before declaring link congestion 🚦
• max_win — maximum window (in packets) before declaring link congestion 🚧
• tolerance — default link tolerance for the bearer 🧚
• domain — the network domain to which links can be established 🌐
• identity — array index of this bearer within the TIPC bearer array. she has a number, she has a slot 💫
• disc — ptr to link setup request 🔗
• net_plane — network plane ('A' through 'H') currently associated with the bearer. yes, a single char, A to H, that's the whole range 🅰️
• encap_hlen — encap headers length 📦
• up — bearer up flag (bit 0) ⬆️
• refcnt — tipc_bearer reference counter. the classic refcount, keeping her alive 🫶

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⭐ Note ⭐

okay so this part matters, don't skim it 🙈 — media-specific code is responsible for initializing the fields indicated below when a bearer is enabled, and TIPC's generic bearer code takes care of initializing all other fields. like, division of labour, bestie. everybody has their job 💅

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🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

• Kernel file ./net/tipc/bearer.h
• struct tipc_media_addr(9)
• struct tipc_media(9)

go read those too, iykyk 📚

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💀 fr fr, that's the whole page, no gatekeeping, all nineteen fields accounted for.

and that's a wrap, bestie! this came from ./net/tipc, dated October 2026, and it's brought to you by the Kernel API Manual. slay, periodt, go read your structs 💖✨🎀