/* allocates a mac tree node from the pool 
Allocates and initializes a mac tree node from the pool. */
IX_ETH_DB_PUBLIC MacTreeNode* ixEthDBAllocMacTreeNode(void)
/* allocates a mac tree node from the pool 
Allocates and initializes a mac tree node from the pool. */
IX_ETH_DB_PUBLIC MacTreeNode* ixEthDBAllocMacTreeNode(void)
{
    MacTreeNode *allocatedNode = NULL;
    if (treePool != NULL)
    {
        LOCK_TREE_POOL;
        allocatedNode = treePool;
        treePool      = treePool->nextFree;
        UNLOCK_TREE_POOL;
        memset(allocatedNode, 0, sizeof(MacTreeNode));
    }
    return allocatedNode;
}