Dynamic Data Plane Updates using Lua and libmoon

Abstract

Upcoming communication networks, such as 6G, require both high performance and reliability, while service updates typically introduce service downtimes. This study explores dynamic network function updates using libmoon, a DPDK-based high-performance packet processing framework. The approach enables seamless, on-the-fly updates of network functions. By leveraging LuaJIT, we profit from just-in-time (JIT) compilation, allowing for efficient per-flow function updates. Our evaluation demonstrates the feasibility of runtime re-programmability in network data planes. We show the induced latencies of runtime changes and examine cross-flow and cross-core influences. Moreover, we investigate the effects of JIT compilation and show the significance of JIT compilation for long-term performance.