bp

Pointer to the message block to be deallocated. mblk_t is an instance of the msgb(9S) structure.

Architecture independent level 1 (DDI/DKI).

freeb() deallocates a message block. If the reference count of the db_ref member of the datab(9S) structure is greater than 1, freeb() decrements the count. If db_ref equals 1, it deallocates the message block and the corresponding data block and buffer.

If the data buffer to be freed was allocated with the esballoc(9F), the buffer may be a non-STREAMS resource. In that case, the driver must be notified that the attached data buffer needs to be freed, and run its own freeing routine. To make this process independent of the driver used in the stream, freeb() finds the free_rtn(9S) structure associated with the buffer. The free_rtn structure contains a pointer to the driver-dependent routine, which releases the buffer. Once this is accomplished, freeb() releases the STREAMS resources associated with the buffer.

freeb() can be called from user or interrupt context.

allocb(9F), copyb(9F), dupb(9F), esballoc(9F), free_rtn(9S)

Writing Device Drivers

STREAMS Programming Guide