Re: [dpdk-dev] [PATCH 00/29] Packet Framework

["Dumitrescu, Cristian" <cristian.dumitrescu@intel.com>]

Hi Neil,

Packet Framework does not compete against OVS. OVS is an application (for virtual switching), while Packet Framework is a toolbox to build applications.

Can somebody pick OVS building blocks and reuse them to build other applications that use the OpenFlow design principles (port, table, pipeline, actions, etc)? Probably not easily, if at all.
Can somebody use Packet Framework to build a virtual switch application? Hopefully yes.
Can somebody use Packet Framework to develop various applications with a custom actions extended outside the small OVS hardwired set (suitable for a switch, but not for e.g. a base station)? Hopefully yes.

This being said, OVS and Packet Framework do use similar design principles originating from OpenFlow.

Regards,
Cristian



-----Original Message-----
From: Neil Horman [mailto:nhorman@tuxdriver.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2014 8:48 PM
To: Dumitrescu, Cristian
Cc: dev@dpdk.org
Subject: Re: [dpdk-dev] [PATCH 00/29] Packet Framework

On Tue, May 27, 2014 at 06:09:23PM +0100, Cristian Dumitrescu wrote:
> Intel DPDK Packet Framework provides a standard methodology (logically similar to OpenFlow) for rapid development of complex packet processing pipelines out of ports, tables and actions.
> 
> A pipeline is constructed by connecting its input ports to its output ports through a chain of lookup tables. As result of lookup operation into the current table, one of the table entries (or the default table entry, in case of lookup miss) is identified to provide the actions to be executed on the current packet and the associated action meta-data. The behavior of user actions is defined through the configurable table action handler, while the reserved actions define the next hop for the current packet (either another table, an output port or packet drop) and are handled transparently by the framework.
> 
> Three new Intel DPDK libraries are introduced for Packet Framework: librte_port, librte_table, librte_pipeline. Please check the Intel DPDK Programmer's Guide for full description of the Packet Framework design.
> 
> Two sample applications are provided for Packet Framework: app/test-pipeline and examples/ip_pipeline. Please check the Intel Sample Apps Guide for a detailed description of how these sample apps.
> 
Isn't this at least in part functionality that OVS provides on top of DPDK?  Why
re-invent the wheel?

Neil

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