user space network driver api?

jesshowe · 05-29-2008, 01:04 PM

Does anyone know of a user space framework that will allow me to set up a nic? I have a windows virtual nic that I need to port to linux, but it has to be user space so that my company's tcp proxies aren't given away to the competition.

pinniped · 05-30-2008, 07:59 AM

I'm not aware of any such developments. The topic of 'user space drivers' had come up again in the past few months and the general concession was: why?

If it's any use to you, maybe have a look at 'user mode linux'. It was touted as a great way to develop drivers because when it hung you simply restarted it.

What's wrong with the Linux virtual NICs ; why do you need to port a WinDuhs one?

osor · 05-30-2008, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesshowe

Does anyone know of a user space framework that will allow me to set up a nic?

By setting up a nic, do you mean just assigning addresses and bringing it up or down? In that case, the appropriate framework is a series of socket ioctls. You can learn more about how these work by studying the source of utilities such as ifconfig or ip.

Perhaps you are talking about a TUN or TAP interface? They have a similar API, which you can read about here.

jlliagre · 05-30-2008, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinniped

The topic of 'user space drivers' had come up again in the past few months and the general concession was: why?

The GPL ?