Architecture independent level 1 (DDI/DKI).

The datab structure describes the data of a STREAMS message. The actual data contained in a STREAMS message is stored in a data buffer pointed to by this structure. A msgb (message block) structure includes a field that points to a datab structure.

Because a data block can have more than one message block pointing to it at one time, the db_ref member keeps track of a data block's references, preventing it from being deallocated until all message blocks are finished with it.

unsigned char *db_base; /* first byte of buffer */ unsigned char *db_lim; /* last byte (+1) of buffer */ unsigned char db_ref; /* # of message pointers to this data */ unsigned char db_type; /* message type */

A datab structure is defined as type dblk_t.

free_rtn(9S), msgb(9S)

Writing Device Drivers

STREAMS Programming Guide