TASKQ(9F) Kernel Functions for Drivers TASKQ(9F)


taskq, ddi_taskq_create, ddi_taskq_destroy, ddi_taskq_dispatch,
ddi_taskq_wait, ddi_taskq_suspend, taskq_suspended, ddi_taskq_resume -
Kernel task queue operations


#include <sys/sunddi.h>

ddi_taskq_t *ddi_taskq_create(dev_info_t *dip, const char *name,
int nthreads, pri_t pri, uint_t cflags);

void ddi_taskq_destroy(ddi_taskq_t *tq);

int ddi_taskq_dispatch(ddi_taskq_t *tq, void (* func)(void *),
void *arg, uint_t dflags);

void ddi_taskq_wait(ddi_taskq_t *tq);

void ddi_taskq_suspend(ddi_taskq_t *tq);

boolean_t ddi_taskq_suspended(ddi_taskq_t *tq);

void ddi_taskq_resume(ddi_taskq_t *tq);


Solaris DDI specific (Solaris DDI)


Pointer to the device's dev_info structure. May be NULL for
kernel modules that do not have an associated dev_info

Descriptive string. Only alphanumeric characters can be used
in name and spaces are not allowed. The name should be

Number of threads servicing the task queue. Note that the
request ordering is guaranteed (tasks are processed in the
order scheduled) if the taskq is created with a single
servicing thread.

Priority of threads servicing the task queue. Drivers and
modules should specify TASKQ_DEFAULTPRI.

Should pass 0 as flags.

Callback function to call.

Argument to the callback function.

Possible dflags are:

Allow sleeping (blocking) until memory is

Return DDI_FAILURE immediately if memory is
not available.

Pointer to a task queue (ddi_taskq_t *).

Pointer to a thread structure.


A kernel task queue is a mechanism for general-purpose asynchronous task
scheduling that enables tasks to be performed at a later time by another
thread. There are several reasons why you may utilize asynchronous task

1. You have a task that isn't time-critical, but a current code
path that is.

2. You have a task that may require grabbing locks that a thread
already holds.

3. You have a task that needs to block (for example, to wait for
memory), but you have a thread that cannot block in its
current context.

4. You have a code path that can't complete because of a specific
condition, but also can't sleep or fail. In this case, the
task is immediately queued and then is executed after the
condition disappears.

5. A task queue is just a simple way to launch multiple tasks in

A task queue consists of a list of tasks, together with one or more
threads to service the list. If a task queue has a single service thread,
all tasks are guaranteed to execute in the order they were dispatched.
Otherwise they can be executed in any order. Note that since tasks are
placed on a list, execution of one task should not depend on the
execution of another task or a deadlock may occur.

The ddi_taskq_create() function creates a task queue instance.

The ddi_taskq_dispatch() function places taskq on the list for later
execution. The dflag argument specifies whether it is allowed sleep
waiting for memory. DDI_SLEEP dispatches can sleep and are guaranteed to
succeed. DDI_NOSLEEP dispatches are guaranteed not to sleep but may fail
(return DDI_FAILURE) if resources are not available.

The ddi_taskq_destroy() function waits for any scheduled tasks to
complete, then destroys the taskq. The caller should guarantee that no
new tasks are scheduled for the closing taskq.

The ddi_taskq_wait() function waits for all previously scheduled tasks to
complete. Note that this function does not stop any new task dispatches.

The ddi_taskq_suspend() function suspends all task execution until
ddi_taskq_resume() is called. Although ddi_taskq_suspend() attempts to
suspend pending tasks, there are no guarantees that they will be
suspended. The only guarantee is that all tasks dispatched after
ddi_taskq_suspend() will not be executed. Because it will trigger a
deadlock, the ddi_taskq_suspend() function should never be called by a
task executing on a taskq.

The ddi_taskq_suspended() function returns B_TRUE if taskq is suspended,
and B_FALSE otherwise. It is intended to ASSERT that the task queue is

The ddi_taskq_resume() function resumes task queue execution.


The ddi_taskq_create() function creates an opaque handle that is used for
all other taskq operations. It returns a taskq pointer on success and
NULL on failure.

The ddi_taskq_dispatch() function returns DDI_FAILURE if it can't
dispatch a task and returns DDI_SUCCESS if dispatch succeeded.

The ddi_taskq_suspended() function returns B_TRUE if taskq is suspended.
Otherwise B_FALSE is returned.


All functions may be called from the user or kernel contexts.

Additionally, the ddi_taskq_dispatch function may be called from the
interrupt context only if the DDI_NOSLEEP flag is set.

September 12, 2020 TASKQ(9F)