INET6_OPT_INIT(3) BSD Library Functions Manual INET6_OPT_INIT(3)NAME
inet6_opt_init, inet6_opt_append, inet6_opt_finish, inet6_opt_set_val,
inet6_opt_next, inet6_opt_find, inet6_opt_get_val — IPv6 Hop-by-Hop and
Destination Options manipulation
SYNOPSIS
#include <netinet/in.h>
int
inet6_opt_init(void *extbuf, socklen_t extlen);
int
inet6_opt_append(void *extbuf, socklen_t extlen, int offset,
u_int8_t type, socklen_t len, u_int8_t align, void **databufp);
int
inet6_opt_finish(void *extbuf, socklen_t extlen, int offset);
int
inet6_opt_set_val(void *databuf, int offset, void *val,
socklen_t vallen);
int
inet6_opt_next(void *extbuf, socklen_t extlen, int offset,
u_int8_t *typep, socklen_t *lenp, void **databufp);
int
inet6_opt_find(void *extbuf, socklen_t extlen, int offset, u_int8_t type,
socklen_t *lenp, void **databufp);
int
inet6_opt_get_val(void *databuf, socklen_t offset, void *val,
socklen_t vallen);
DESCRIPTION
Building and parsing the Hop-by-Hop and Destination options is compli‐
cated. The advanced sockets API defines a set of functions to help
applications create and manipulate Hop-by-Hope and Destination options.
These functions use the formatting rules specified in Appendix B in
RFC2460, i.e., that the largest field is placed last in the option. The
function prototypes for these functions are all contained in the
<netinet/in.h> header file.
inet6_opt_init
The inet6_opt_init() function returns the number of bytes needed for an
empty extension header, one without any options. If the extbuf argument
points to a valid section of memory then the inet6_opt_init() function
also initializes the extension header's length field. When attempting to
initialize an extension buffer passed in the extbuf argument extlen must
be a positive multiple of 8 or else the function fails and returns -1 to
the caller.
inet6_opt_append
The inet6_opt_append() function can perform to different jobs. When a
valid extbuf argument is supplied it appends an option to the extension
buffer and returns the updated total length as well as a pointer to the
newly created option in databufp. If the value of extbuf is NULL then
the inet6_opt_append(function, only, reports, what, the, total, length,
would) be if the option were actually appended. The len and align argu‐
ments specify the length of the option and the required data alignment
which must be used when appending the option. The offset argument should
be the length returned by the inet6_opt_init() function or a previous
call to inet6_opt_append().
The type argument is the 8-bit option type.
After inet6_opt_append() has been called, the application can use the
buffer pointed to by databufp directly, or use inet6_opt_set_val() to
specify the data to be contained in the option.
Option types of 0 and 1 are reserved for the Pad1 and PadN options. All
other values from 2 through 255 may be used by applications.
The length of the option data is contained in an 8-bit value and so may
contain any value from 0 through 255.
The align parameter must have a value of 1, 2, 4, or 8 and cannot exceed
the value of len. The alignment values represent no alignment, 16 bit,
32 bit and 64 bit alignments respectively.
inet6_opt_finish
The inet6_opt_finish() calculates the final padding necessary to make the
extension header a multiple of 8 bytes, as required by the IPv6 extension
header specification, and returns the extension header's updated total
length. The offset argument should be the length returned by
inet6_opt_init() or inet6_opt_append(). When extbuf is not NULL the
function also sets up the appropriate padding bytes by inserting a Pad1
or PadN option of the proper length.
If the extension header is too small to contain the proper padding then
an error of -1 is returned to the caller.
inet6_opt_set_val
The inet6_opt_set_val() function inserts data items of various sizes into
the data portion of the option. The databuf argument is a pointer to
memory that was returned by the inet6_opt_append() call and the offset
argument specifies where the option should be placed in the data buffer.
The val argument points to an area of memory containing the data to be
inserted into the extension header, and the vallen argument indicates how
much data to copy.
The caller should ensure that each field is aligned on its natural bound‐
aries as described in Appendix B of RFC2460.
The function returns the offset for the next field which is calculated as
offset + vallen and is used when composing options with multiple fields.
inet6_opt_next
The inet6_opt_next() function parses received extension headers. The
extbuf and extlen arguments specify the location and length of the exten‐
sion header being parsed. The offset argument should either be zero, for
the first option, or the length value returned by a previous call to
inet6_opt_next() or inet6_opt_find(). The return value specifies the
position where to continue scanning the extension buffer. The option is
returned in the arguments typep, lenp, and databufp. typep, lenp, and
databufp point to the 8-bit option type, the 8-bit option length and the
option data respectively. This function does not return any PAD1 or PADN
options. When an error occurs or there are no more options the return
value is -1.
inet6_opt_find
The inet6_opt_find() function searches the extension buffer for a partic‐
ular option type, passed in through the type argument. If the option is
found then the lenp and databufp arguments are updated to point to the
option's length and data respectively. extbuf and extlen must point to a
valid extension buffer and give its length. The offset argument can be
used to search from a location anywhere in the extension header.
inet6_opt_get_val
The inet6_opt_get_val() function extracts data items of various sizes in
the data portion of the option. The databuf is a pointer returned by the
inet6_opt_next() or inet6_opt_find() functions. The val argument points
where the data will be extracted. The offset argument specifies from
where in the data portion of the option the value should be extracted;
the first byte of option data is specified by an offset of zero.
It is expected that each field is aligned on its natural boundaries as
described in Appendix B of RFC2460.
The function returns the offset for the next field by calculating offset
+ vallen which can be used when extracting option content with multiple
fields. Robust receivers must verify alignment before calling this func‐
tion.
DIAGNOSTICS
All the functions return -1 on an error.
EXAMPLES
RFC3542 gives comprehensive examples in Section 23.
KAME also provides examples in the advapitest directory of its kit.
SEE ALSO
W. Stevens, M. Thomas, E. Nordmark, and T. Jinmei, Advanced Sockets API
for IPv6, RFC3542, October 2002.
S. Deering and R. Hinden, Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6)
Specification, RFC2460, December 1998.
HISTORY
The implementation first appeared in KAME advanced networking kit.
STANDARDS
The functions are documented in “Advanced Sockets API for IPv6”
(RFC3542).
BSD December 23, 2004 BSD
