The STREAMS framework consists of the stream head, documented STREAMS data structures (such as queue_t, mblk_t) and STREAMS utility routines including STREAMS facilities documented in the Device Driver Interface (DDI). The STREAMS framework enables multiple kernel threads to concurrently enter and execute code defined by each module, including the open, close, put, and service procedures of each queue within the system.
The first goal of the SunOS 5 system is to preserve the interface and flavor of STREAMS and to shield module code as much as possible from the impact of migrating to the multithreaded kernel. Most of the locking is hidden from the programmer and performed by the STREAMS kernel framework. As long as module code uses the standard, documented programmatic interfaces to shared kernel data structures (such as queue_t, mblk_t, and dblk_t), and adheres to the DDI/DKI, the user does not have to explicitly lock these framework data structures.
The second goal is to make writing MT SAFE modules simple. One of the ways that the framework accomplishes this is by using the MT STREAMS perimeter mechanisms for controlling and restricting concurrent access to a STREAMS module. STREAMS perimeters allow the module writer to select the level of concurrency that a module can tolerate.