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Using Packet Processing Object Modules Interchangeably as Stand-Alone Programs or “Multi-app” Components

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Abstract

The basic model for processing packets and routing them from one hardware system to another can be extended to describe virtual packet transmission from one module to another within a single program image. Representing virtual and physical ports interchangeably and embodying their routing relations in runtime data structures makes it possible to produce object modules that can be deployed in a variety of roles without recompilation. We describe a fielded system that combines (a) application virtual ports, (b) a software tool for specifying packet routing to virtual and physical ports, (c) an advanced linker that encapsulates routing actions in runtime tables within a single multi-application image, and (d) a table-driven dispatcher that effects control flow and packet routing. We present results that show performance advantages and demonstrate the usability and security benefits of reconfiguring and redeploying programs in object module form.

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Acknowledgments

Peder Jungck, Matt White and Dwight Mulcahy developed the basics of the multi-application approach. Key implementers included Matt White, Dwight Mulcahy, Minh Nguyen, Mary Pham and Jim Frandeen. Ralph Duncan, Peder Jungck and Dwight Mulcahy designed the packetC language. Ken Ross created and timed the applications used in this paper. Kareem Khan contributed key insights to the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CloudShield Technologies, a Leidos Company, 212 Gibraltar Drive, Sunnyvale, CA , 94089, USA

    Ralph Duncan, Peder Jungck, Kenneth Ross, Dwight Mulcahy & Minh Nguyen

  2. BAE Systems Intelligence and Security, McClean, VA, USA

    Peder Jungck

  3. Shape Security, 800 E El Camino Real, Suite #250, Mountain View, CA, USA

    Dwight Mulcahy

Authors
  1. Ralph Duncan
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  2. Peder Jungck
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  3. Kenneth Ross
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  4. Dwight Mulcahy
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  5. Minh Nguyen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ralph Duncan.

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Ixia is a trademark of Ixia in the United States and/or other countries. NetLogic is a trademark of NetLogic Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Xilinx and Virtex are trademarks of Xilinx Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. VMWare is a registered trademark of VMWare, Inc. vSphere is a trademark of VMWare, Inc. ESX is a trademark of VMWare, Inc.

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Duncan, R., Jungck, P., Ross, K. et al. Using Packet Processing Object Modules Interchangeably as Stand-Alone Programs or “Multi-app” Components. Int J Parallel Prog 44, 26–45 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10766-014-0332-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10766-014-0332-7

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