Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:40:46 -0700 From: Julian Elischer <julian@elischer.org> To: ipfw@freebsd.org, FreeBSD Net <freebsd-net@freebsd.org> Subject: IPFW update frequency Message-ID: <460D75CE.70804@elischer.org>
next in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
I have been looking at the IPFW code recently, especially with respect to locking. There are some things that could be done to improve IPFW's behaviour when processing packets, but some of these take a toll (there is always a toll) on the 'updating' side of things. For example. I can make IPFW lock-free during processing of packets (i.e. not holding any locks while traversing the list) which would solve problems we have with lock-order reversals when it needs to look at the socket layer (which needs socket layer locks). Unfortunatly this would make it a lot more expensive in the case where new rules are being added to the list. possibly a LOT more expensive. Now, this would only matter if one was adding (or deleting) hundreds of rules per second to the firewall, but as I've discovered, there's always SOMEONE that is doing the very thing you imagine that no-one would ever do. In my imagination, most of the people who did this sort of thing don't need to do it any more as tables obviate the need for that sort of thing. Is there anyone out there who is adding hundreds (or even dozens) of rules per second on a continuous basis, or who wants rule changing to be a really efficient operation? (does it matter to you if it takes a few milliSecs to add a rule?) Julian
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?460D75CE.70804>