Networking

Kernel Networking Subsystems The Linux and Unix networking stack consists of several key components in the kernel that handle the sending, receiving, forwarding, and routing of network packets. Optimizing the performance of these subsystems is critical for achieving high throughput and low latency network communication. TCP/IP Stack The Linux TCP/IP stack implements core protocols like…

Connecting Linux and BSD Systems Establishing network connectivity between Linux and BSD systems enables critical communication pathways for interoperability. Careful configuration of network interfaces and remote access tools lays the groundwork for sharing files and resources. Configuring network interfaces for communication Both Linux and BSD operating systems utilize network interface controllers (NICs) such as Ethernet…

Enabling X11 Forwarding on SSH Server The first step in setting up X11 forwarding from a headless Linux server to your local machine is to enable X11 forwarding in the SSH daemon’s configuration file on the server. By default, X11 forwarding is disabled for security reasons on most SSH server implementations. On a Linux system…

Overcoming Network Latency for Remote Unix Apps A core challenge when accessing Unix applications over a network is the laggy responsiveness that results from communication delays between the client and server. This network latency reduces the interactivity of applications, harming user productivity. However, there are techniques across the network stack, application layer, and end-user experience…

Kernel Bypass for Faster Packet Processing Bypassing the kernel networking stack allows userspace applications direct access to the network interface card (NIC) for sending and receiving packets. This avoids context switches and copies between kernel and userspace, significantly reducing latency and increasing throughput. Popular kernel bypass frameworks for Linux include Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK)…

Choosing the Right Hardware for an OpenWRT Access Point Selecting compatible wireless router hardware is crucial for building a stable OpenWRT-based Wi-Fi access point. The open-source OpenWRT firmware supports a wide variety of chipsets and router models, but some work better than others. Discussing wireless chipsets compatible with OpenWRT OpenWRT is designed primarily for broadband…