Leveraging Kernel Tables with XDP

Explore the advantages of making kernel tables accessible to XDP programs in this Linux Plumbers Conference talk. Dive into the framework for running BPF programs in NIC drivers, allowing early packet fate decisions in the Linux networking stack. Learn about an alternative approach to map-based packet decisions, which leverages kernel networking tables for XDP programs. Discover how this method enables the use of standard Linux APIs and tools for network configuration and state management while maintaining XDP's high performance. Examine the recently added helper for IPv4 and IPv6 FIB lookups in XDP programs and its benefits for routing suites like FRR. Investigate the potential for creating a programmable packet pipeline, implemented features as of October 2018, key missing functionalities, and current challenges in leveraging kernel tables with XDP.