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IP_PKTINFO(2const) IP_PKTINFO(2const)

NAME

IP_PKTINFO - information about the incoming packet

LIBRARY

Standard C library (libc-lc)

SYNOPSIS

#include <netinet/in.h>  /* Definition of IP* constants */
#include <sys/socket.h>
int setsockopt(int sockfd, IPPROTO_IP, IP_PKTINFO,
               const int *enable, sizeof(int));

DESCRIPTION

Pass an IP_PKTINFO ancillary message that contains a in_pktinfo(2type) structure that supplies some information about the incoming packet. This works only for datagram oriented sockets.

The argument is a flag that tells the socket whether the IP_PKTINFO message should be passed or not.

The message itself can be sent/retrieved only as a control message with a packet using recvmsg(2) or sendmsg(2).

Not supported for SOCK_STREAM sockets.

ERRORS

See IPPROTO_IP(2const). See setsockopt(2). See ip(7).

VERSIONS

Some BSD sockets implementations provide IP_RCVDSTADDR and IP_RECVIF socket options to get the destination address and the interface of received datagrams. Linux has the more general IP_PKTINFO for the same task.

STANDARDS

Linux.

HISTORY

Linux 2.2.

SEE ALSO

in_pktinfo(2const), IPPROTO_IP(2const), setsockopt(2), ip(7)

2025-12-01 Linux man-pages (unreleased)