/* allocates a hash node from the pool 
Allocates a hash node and resets its value. */
IX_ETH_DB_PUBLIC HashNode* ixEthDBAllocHashNode(void)
/* allocates a hash node from the pool 
Allocates a hash node and resets its value. */
IX_ETH_DB_PUBLIC HashNode* ixEthDBAllocHashNode(void)
{
    HashNode *allocatedNode = NULL;
    if (nodePool != NULL)
    {
        LOCK_NODE_POOL;
        allocatedNode = nodePool;
        nodePool      = nodePool->nextFree;
        UNLOCK_NODE_POOL;
        memset(allocatedNode, 0, sizeof(HashNode));
    }
    return allocatedNode;
}