nbd_block_status - Man Page

 #include <libnbd.h>

 typedef struct {
   int (*callback) (void *user_data,
                    const char *metacontext,
                    uint64_t offset, uint32_t *entries,
                    size_t nr_entries, int *error);
   void *user_data;
   void (*free) (void *user_data);
 } nbd_extent_callback;

 int nbd_block_status (
       struct nbd_handle *h, uint64_t count,
       uint64_t offset, nbd_extent_callback extent_callback,
       uint32_t flags
     );

Issue the block status command to the NBD server.  If supported by the server, this causes metadata context information about blocks beginning from the specified offset to be returned. The count parameter is a hint: the server may choose to return less status, or the final block may extend beyond the requested range. If multiple contexts are supported, the number of blocks and cumulative length of those blocks need not be identical between contexts.

Note that not all servers can support a count of 4GiB or larger; nbd_get_extended_headers_negotiated(3) indicates which servers will parse a request larger than 32 bits. The NBD protocol does not yet have a way for a client to learn if the server will enforce an even smaller maximum block status size, although a future extension may add a constraint visible in nbd_get_block_size(3).  Furthermore, this function is inherently limited to 32-bit values.  If the server replies with a larger extent, the length of that extent will be truncated to just below 32 bits and any further extents from the server will be ignored.  If the server replies with a status value larger than 32 bits (only possible when extended headers are in use), the callback function will be passed an EOVERFLOW error.  To get the full extent information from a server that supports 64-bit extents, you must use nbd_block_status_64(3).

Depending on which metadata contexts were enabled before connecting (see nbd_add_meta_context(3)) and which are supported by the server (see nbd_can_meta_context(3)) this call returns information about extents by calling back to the extent function.  The callback cannot call nbd_* APIs on the same handle since it holds the handle lock and will cause a deadlock.  If the callback returns -1, and no earlier error has been detected, then the overall block status command will fail with any non-zero value stored into the callback's error parameter (with a default of EPROTO); but any further contexts will still invoke the callback.

The extent function is called once per type of metadata available, with the user_data passed to this function.  The metacontext parameter is a string such as "base:allocation".  The entries array is an array of pairs of integers with the first entry in each pair being the length (in bytes) of the block and the second entry being a status/flags field which is specific to the metadata context. The number of pairs passed to the function is nr_entries/2.  The NBD protocol document in the section about NBD_REPLY_TYPE_BLOCK_STATUS describes the meaning of this array; for contexts known to libnbd, <libnbd.h> contains constants beginning with LIBNBD_STATE_ that may help decipher the values. On entry to the callback, the error parameter contains the errno value of any previously detected error, but even if an earlier error was detected, the current metacontext and entries are valid.

It is possible for the extent function to be called more times than you expect (if the server is buggy), so always check the metacontext field to ensure you are receiving the data you expect.  It is also possible that the extent function is not called at all, even for metadata contexts that you requested.  This indicates either that the server doesn't support the context or for some other reason cannot return the data.

The flags parameter may be 0 for no flags, or may contain LIBNBD_CMD_FLAG_REQ_ONE meaning that the server should return only one extent per metadata context where that extent does not exceed count bytes; however, libnbd does not validate that the server obeyed the flag.

By default, libnbd will reject attempts to use this function with parameters that are likely to result in server failure, such as requesting an unknown command flag.  The nbd_set_strict_mode(3) function can be used to alter which scenarios should await a server reply rather than failing fast.

If the call is successful the function returns 0.

On error -1 is returned.

Refer to "ERROR HANDLING" in libnbd(3) for how to get further details of the error.

The following parameters must not be NULL: h. For more information see "Non-NULL parameters" in libnbd(3).

nbd_block_status can be called when the handle is in the following state:

 ┌─────────────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────┐
 │ Handle created, before connecting   │ ❌ error                │
 │ Connecting                          │ ❌ error                │
 │ Connecting & handshaking (opt_mode) │ ❌ error                │
 │ Connected to the server             │ ✅ allowed              │
 │ Connection shut down                │ ❌ error                │
 │ Handle dead                         │ ❌ error                │
 └─────────────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────┘

This function first appeared in libnbd 1.0.

If you need to test if this function is available at compile time check if the following macro is defined:

 #define LIBNBD_HAVE_NBD_BLOCK_STATUS 1

nbd_add_meta_context(3), nbd_aio_block_status(3), nbd_block_status_64(3), nbd_can_meta_context(3), nbd_create(3), nbd_get_block_size(3), nbd_get_extended_headers_negotiated(3), nbd_set_strict_mode(3), libnbd(3).

Eric Blake

Richard W.M. Jones

Copyright Red Hat

This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA

libnbd(3), NBD(3), nbd_aio_block_status(3), nbd_block_status_64(3), nbd_get_extended_headers_negotiated(3), nbd_set_request_meta_context(3).