Consistent Composition of Data Plane Programs

• Ricardo Parizotto UFRGS
• Alberto Schaeffer-Filho UFRGS

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5753/sbrc_estendido.2021.17160

Abstract

Programmable Data Planes (PDP) enable more flexibility in the operation of networks. To fully reap the benefits of programmability, it should be feasible to compose and operate multiple PDP functions into a single target switch as needed. However, existing techniques are not suitable because they lack abstractions for steering packets through the control flows. As such, they do not support the modular composition of PDP programs. This work summarizes the thesis called "Consistent Code Composition and Modular Data Plane Programming" that proposes PRIME, a composition mechanism of in-network functions that also addresses the fundamental needs of packet steering between PDP program modules. We present a design of PRIME, along with use cases. The results show that it is possible to achieve module-wide compositions at little additional cost in throughput.

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