---
name: "nbd_pread"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libnbd"
version: "1.24.4-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/nbd_pread"
---

# nbd\_pread(3)

read from the NBD server

## NAME

nbd\_pread - read from the NBD server

## SYNOPSIS

```
 #include <libnbd.h>
 int nbd_pread (
       struct nbd_handle *h, void *buf, size_t count,
       uint64_t offset, uint32_t flags
     );
```

## DESCRIPTION

Issue a read command to the NBD server for the range starting at `"offset"` and ending at `"offset"` + `"count"` - 1.  NBD can only read all or nothing using this call.  The call returns when the data has been read fully into `"buf"` or there is an error.  See also [**nbd\_pread\_structured**(3)](/nbd_pread_structured/3.md), if finer visibility is required into the server's replies, or if you want to use `"LIBNBD_CMD_FLAG_DF"`.

Note that libnbd currently enforces a maximum read buffer of 64MiB, even if the server would permit a larger buffer in a single transaction; attempts to exceed this will result in an `"ERANGE"` error.  The server may enforce a smaller limit, which can be learned with [**nbd\_get\_block\_size**(3)](/nbd_get_block_size/3.md).

The `"flags"` parameter must be `0` for now (it exists for future NBD protocol extensions).

Note that if this command fails, and [**nbd\_get\_pread\_initialize**(3)](/nbd_get_pread_initialize/3.md) returns true, then libnbd sanitized `"buf"`, but it is unspecified whether the contents of `"buf"` will read as zero or as partial results from the server.  If [**nbd\_get\_pread\_initialize**(3)](/nbd_get_pread_initialize/3.md) returns false, then libnbd did not sanitize `"buf"`, and the contents are undefined on failure.

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)](/nbd_set_strict_mode/3.md) function can be used to alter which scenarios should await a server reply rather than failing fast.

## RETURN VALUE

If the call is successful the function returns `0`.

## ERRORS

On error `-1` is returned.

Refer to "ERROR HANDLING" in [**libnbd**(3)](/libnbd/3.md) for how to get further details of the error.

The following parameters must not be NULL: `"h"`, `"buf"`. For more information see "Non-NULL parameters" in [**libnbd**(3)](/libnbd/3.md).

## HANDLE STATE

nbd\_pread 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                │
 └─────────────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────┘
```

## VERSION

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_PREAD 1
```

## EXAMPLE

This example is also available as *examples/fetch-first-sector.c* in the libnbd source code.

```
 /* This example shows how to connect to an NBD server
  * and fetch and print the first sector (usually the
  * boot sector or partition table or filesystem
  * superblock).
  *
  * You can test it with nbdkit like this:
  *
  * nbdkit -U - floppy . \
  *   --run './fetch-first-sector $unixsocket'
  *
  * The nbdkit floppy plugin creates an MBR disk so the
  * first sector is the partition table.
  */
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <libnbd.h>
 int
 main (int argc, char *argv[])
 {
   struct nbd_handle *nbd;
   char buf[512];
   FILE *pp;
   if (argc != 2) {
     fprintf (stderr, "%s socket\n", argv[0]);
     exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
   }
   /* Create the libnbd handle. */
   nbd = nbd_create ();
   if (nbd == NULL) {
     fprintf (stderr, "%s\n", nbd_get_error ());
     exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
   }
   /* Connect to the NBD server over a
    * Unix domain socket.
    */
   if (nbd_connect_unix (nbd, argv[1]) == -1) {
     fprintf (stderr, "%s\n", nbd_get_error ());
     exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
   }
   /* Read the first sector synchronously. */
   if (nbd_pread (nbd, buf, sizeof buf, 0, 0) == -1) {
     fprintf (stderr, "%s\n", nbd_get_error ());
     exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
   }
   /* Close the libnbd handle. */
   nbd_close (nbd);
   /* Print the first sector. */
   pp = popen ("hexdump -C", "w");
   if (pp == NULL) {
     perror ("popen: hexdump");
     exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
   }
   fwrite (buf, sizeof buf, 1, pp);
   pclose (pp);
   exit (EXIT_SUCCESS);
 }
```

## SEE ALSO

[**nbd\_aio\_pread**(3)](/nbd_aio_pread/3.md), [**nbd\_create**(3)](/nbd_create/3.md), [**nbd\_get\_block\_size**(3)](/nbd_get_block_size/3.md), [**nbd\_get\_pread\_initialize**(3)](/nbd_get_pread_initialize/3.md), [**nbd\_pread\_structured**(3)](/nbd_pread_structured/3.md), [**nbd\_set\_pread\_initialize**(3)](/nbd_set_pread_initialize/3.md), [**nbd\_set\_strict\_mode**(3)](/nbd_set_strict_mode/3.md), [**libnbd**(3)](/libnbd/3.md).

## AUTHORS

Eric Blake

Richard W.M. Jones

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright Red Hat

## LICENSE

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