Protocol-Independent FIB Architecture for Network Overlays
Ryo Nakamura, Yohei Kuga, Yuji Sekiya, Hiroshi Esaki · 2016
We introduce a new forwarding information base architecture into the stacked layering model for network overlays. In recent data center networks, network overlay built upon tunneling protocols becomes an essential technology for virtualized environments. However, the tunneling stacks network layers twice in the host OS, so that processing to transmit packets increases and throughput will degrade. First, this paper shows the measurement result of the degradation on a Linux kernel, in which throughputs in 5 tunneling protocols degrade by over 30%. Then, we describe the proposed architecture that enables the shortcut for the second protocol processing for network overlays. In the evaluation with a dummy interface and a modified Intel 10-Gbps NIC driver, transmitting throughput is improved in 5 tunneling protocols and the throughput of the Linux kernel is approximately doubled in particular protocols.