xcan_start_xmit(9)

💅 xcan_start_xmit(9) — the Kernel API Manual glow-up

okay so bestie, welcome to xcan_start_xmit, section 9 of the Kernel API Manual (yes the whole manual name, we're being official today 🎀). This is the lil function that gets your CAN frames out the door. Let's go ✨

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🌸 NAME 🌸

xcan_start_xmit — literally just starts the transmission. that's it. that's the whole job. iconic brevity 💅

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

netdev_tx_t xcan_start_xmit (struct sk_buff *skb , struct net_device
       *ndev );

two args, one return, zero drama (mostly). keep scrolling for the deets 🫶

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🎀 ARGUMENTS 🎀

• skb — the sk_buff pointer holding the data that's about to get Txed. this is the actual payload bestie, the whole reason we're here 💌
• ndev — pointer to the net_device structure. your network device's whole personality lives in there 🌈

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🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

so this function gets invoked from the upper layers to initiate transmission. like, the layers above are basically tapping xcan_start_xmit on the shoulder going "hey. hey bestie. send this." and it's on. no cap, that's the entire vibe check 🔥

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👑 RETURN 👑

• NETDEV_TX_OK — success slay 💖
• NETDEV_TX_BUSY — the tx queue is full 😭 come back later

fr fr keep an eye on that NETDEV_TX_BUSY, it means "not right now" not "never" — the queue's just crowded 🫶

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⭐ SEE ALSO ⭐

the whole friend group 🧚, all hanging out in the kernel file ./drivers/net/can/xilinx_can.c:

• struct xcan_priv(9)
• xcan_write_reg_le(9)
• xcan_read_reg_le(9)
• xcan_write_reg_be(9)
• xcan_read_reg_be(9)
• xcan_rx_int_mask(9)
• set_reset_mode(9)
• xcan_set_bittiming(9)
• xcan_chip_start(9)
• xcan_do_set_mode(9)
• xcan_write_frame(9)
• xcan_start_xmit_fifo(9)
• xcan_start_xmit_mailbox(9)
• xcan_rx(9)
• xcanfd_rx(9)
• xcan_current_error_state(9)
• xcan_set_error_state(9)
• xcan_update_error_state_after_rxtx(9)
• xcan_err_interrupt(9)
• xcan_state_interrupt(9)
• xcan_rx_fifo_get_next_frame(9)
• xcan_rx_poll(9)
• xcan_tx_interrupt(9)
• xcan_interrupt(9)
• xcan_chip_stop(9)
• xcan_open(9)
• xcan_close(9)
• xcan_get_berr_counter(9)
• xcan_get_auto_tdcv(9)
• xcan_suspend(9)
• xcan_resume(9)
• xcan_runtime_suspend(9)
• xcan_runtime_resume(9)
• xcan_probe(9)
• xcan_remove(9)

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okay that's the whole page bestie, go forth and transmit 🚀

sign-off szn: this page lives under ./drivers/net/can and it's stamped October 2026. iykyk 💜🎀💅