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KTHREAD(9) Kernel Developer's Manual KTHREAD(9)

kthread_create, kthread_exit, kthread_join — kernel threads

#include <sys/kthread.h>

int
kthread_create(pri_t pri, int flags, struct cpu_info *ci, void (*func)(void *), void *arg, lwp_t **newlp, const char *fmt, ...);

void
kthread_exit(int ecode);

int
kthread_join(lwp_t *l);

Kernel threads are light-weight processes which execute entirely within the kernel.

Any process can request the creation of a new kernel thread. Kernel threads are not swapped out during memory congestion. The VM space and limits are shared with proc0 (usually swapper).

(pri, flags, ci, func, arg, newlp, fmt, ...)
Create a kernel thread. The arguments are as follows.
pri
Priority level for the thread. If no priority level is desired specify PRI_NONE, causing kthread_create() to select the default priority level.
flags
Flags that can be logically ORed together to alter the thread's behaviour.
ci
If non-NULL, the thread will be created bound to the CPU specified by ci, meaning that it will only ever execute on that CPU. By default, the threads are free to execute on any CPU in the system.
func
A function to be called when the thread begins executing. This function must not return. If the thread runs to completion, it must call kthread_exit() to properly terminate itself.
arg
An argument to be passed to (). May be NULL if not required.
newlp
A pointer to receive the new LWP structure for the kernel thread. May be NULL, unless KTHREAD_MUSTJOIN is specified in flags.
fmt
A string containing format information used to display the kernel thread name. Must not be NULL.

The following flags are defined.

Causes the thread to be created in the LSIDL (idle) state. By default, the threads are created in the LSRUN (runnable) state, meaning they will begin execution shortly after creation.
Specifies that the thread does its own locking and so is multiprocessor safe. If not specified, the global kernel lock will be held whenever the thread is running (unless explicitly dropped by the thread).
Specifies that the thread services device interrupts. This flag is intended for kernel internal use and should not normally be specified.
Causes the kthread to be created in the SCHED_OTHER class (timeshared). The thread's priority will be dynamically adjusted by the scheduler. Increased activity by the kthread will cause its priority to fall; decreased activity will cause its priority to rise. By default, kthreads are created in the SCHED_RR class, with a fixed priority specified by pri. Threads in the SCHED_RR class do not have their priority dynamically adjusted by the scheduler.
Indicates that created kthread must be joined. In such case () will wait until () will be called.
kthread_exit(ecode)
Exit from a kernel thread. Must only be called by a kernel thread.
kthread_join(l)
Suspend execution of calling thread until the target kthread terminates. Conceptually the function can be compared to the user space pthread_join(3), however it must be called only once for kernel thread which was created using the KTHREAD_MUSTJOIN flag and would wait on kthread_exit.

Upon successful completion, kthread_create() returns 0. Otherwise, the following error values are returned:

[EAGAIN]
The limit on the total number of system processes would be exceeded.
[EAGAIN]
The limit RLIMIT_NPROC on the total number of processes under execution by this user id would be exceeded.

The kthread framework itself is implemented within the file sys/kern/kern_kthread.c. Data structures and function prototypes for the framework are located in sys/sys/kthread.h.

condvar(9), driver(9), softint(9), workqueue(9)

The kthread framework appeared in NetBSD 1.4.

April 21, 2015 NetBSD-9.2