structres and unions problem

linux_lover2005 · 04-15-2005, 05:17 AM

hello,
There is a structure skbuff written in linux kernel.
In skbuff structure network and link layers are written as unions.
/* Network layer header */
union
{
struct iphdr *iph;
unsigned char *raw;
} nh;

/* Link layer header */
union
{
struct ethhdr *ethernet;
unsigned char *raw;
} mac;

when packets received by kernel it stores it as
unsigned char *data;
and then map it to headers union in packet as
skb->h.raw = skb->nh.raw = skb->data ;
then ethernet header is retrieved by
skb->mac.raw=skb->data;
ethhdr=skb->mac.ethernet

1)how can a unsigned char *data which assigns to skb->mac.raw recovers as struct ethhdr *ethernet?

2) Can it be possible to map some bytes which i know is structure to a structure from unsigned char *data? Does memcpy help me?

ToniT · 04-15-2005, 07:22 AM

1)
Just by assigning the raw to its place, you get the "header view" for same data.
That is somewhat the whole point of unions.

2)
With memcpy you can do it to arbitrary structures, with union, you don't have to.

Code:

struct foo {
....
} bar;
unsigned char *data;
memcpy(&bar,data,sizeof(struct foo))

linux_lover2005 · 04-15-2005, 08:31 AM

hello,
if i add a new header in skbuff will that require me to have new union to be inserted(trying to check how a packet can be transfered with new header) or its ok to have add only structure in skbuff then how to map it from unsigned char *data; in receive routine? if new header is added between TCP and IP or IP and Ethernet then how to retreive new header from data variable?