This function initializes any doubly-linked, driver-managed interlocked queue or doubly-linked, driver-maintained list.
| Header file: | Ntcompat.h |
| Windows CE versions: | 2.0 and later |
VOID InitializeListHead( IN PLIST_ENTRY ListHead );
This function must be called from the DriverEntry function if a driver sets up internal interlocked queues for IRPs or manages internal linked lists.
The ListHead of type LIST_ENTRY is doubly linked. Entries in an interlocked queue can be queued and dequeued by calling the ExInterlockedInsertXXXList and ExInterlockedRemoveHeadList functions. Entries can be inserted into and removed from a driver-maintained list with InsertXXXList and RemoveXXXList.
For an interlocked queue, a driver must provide resident storage: in the device extension of a driver-created device object, in the controller extension of a driver-created controller object, or in nonpaged pool allocated by the driver. The driver must also provide storage for a spin lock, which must be initialized with the KeInitializeSpinLock function before the driver’s initial call to the ExInterlockedXXX function with the spin lock.
For a driver-maintained list, the driver must synchronize access to the list so that it is impossible for any two routines to be inserting and/or removing entries from the list simultaneously in symmetric multiprocessing devices. Consequently, most drivers use the ExInterlockedXXX functions to manage the necessary synchronization, rather than setting up a driver-managed list, which is likely to require spin-lock protection anyway.
A driver that calls this function must be running at IRQL PASSIVE_LEVEL.