PPPoE Server Packet Sniffer for Linux Network Interface Overhead
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing PPPoE broadband access technologies on the Linux platform face slow dial-up logon and logoff speeds due to the time-consuming creation and deletion of virtual network interfaces, which involve memory requests, system calls, and CPU privilege level switches.
Innovation Solution
A method where a PPPoE server registers a PPPoE protocol packet sniffer with the Linux kernel and an IPv4 protocol packet sniffer with the Netfilter framework after user authorization, processing and transmitting packets based on authenticated user information, thereby replacing the creation and deletion of virtual network interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a virtual network interface is created for each dial-up user, then PPPoE packet termination and forwarding can be realized, but the dial-up logon speed becomes slow due to time-consuming memory requests, system calls, and CPU privilege level switches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the network interface processing capability through packet sniffers that monitor and handle PPPoE packets without requiring actual virtual network interface creation. The sniffer copies the essential functionality of packet termination and forwarding while avoiding the overhead of creating real network interface objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of creating and configuring virtual network interfaces with a software-based packet sniffing mechanism. Instead of using the traditional network interface creation workflow (which involves memory allocation, system calls, and CPU privilege switches), the system uses packet sniffers to intercept and process PPPoE packets directly in the network stack.
2Reliability
If a virtual network interface is created for each dial-up user, then data packet forwarding can be achieved, but the dial-up logoff speed becomes slow due to time-consuming interface deletion operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses packet sniffers to copy the data packet forwarding functionality without creating actual virtual network interfaces. The sniffer mechanism replicates the essential packet routing and forwarding capabilities while avoiding the need to create and subsequently delete network interface objects during user connection lifecycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical process of virtual network interface creation and deletion with a packet sniffer-based approach. The sniffer handles packet forwarding throughout the user session without requiring interface lifecycle management, thereby eliminating the time-consuming deletion operations that occur during logoff.
3Productivity
If packet sniffers are registered with the Linux kernel and Netfilter framework, then the creation and deletion overhead of virtual network interfaces is eliminated, but the complexity of packet processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces packet sniffers as intermediary components between the network interface and the PPPoE processing logic. These sniffers act as mediators that intercept packets, perform necessary processing, and forward them to the appropriate handlers, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture while improving performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple packet processing functions into a unified packet sniffer mechanism. Instead of having separate code paths for interface creation, packet handling, and forwarding, the sniffer consolidates these functions into a single coherent processing stream that handles all PPPoE packets efficiently.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides a PPPoE packets transmitting method and a PPPoE server. The method comprises: registering, by a PPPoE server, a PPPoE protocol packet sniffer with a Linux kernel and an Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPV4) protocol packet sniffer with a Netfilter framework, and adding a user's IP address and MAC address to authenticated user information, receiving, by the PPPoE server, a packet, and calling, by the PPPoE server, the PPPoE protocol packet sniffer or the IPV4 protocol packet sniffer to process and transmit the packet according to the authenticated user information.In the present disclosure, during a user's dial-up logon or logoff, the creation and deletion of a network interface are not required, which can improve the logon and logoff speeds.