Europa: Efficient User Mode Packet Forwarding in Network Virtualization

Network virtualization provides the ability to run concurrent virtual networks over a shared substrate. However, it is challenging to design such a platform to host multiple heterogeneous and often highly customized virtual networks. Not only minimal interference among different virtual networks is desired, high-speed packet forwarding is also required. This paper presents Europa, a virtual network platform uses Efficient UseR mOde Packet forwArding, which supports high-speed and highly customizable virtual networks. Our platform adopts lightweight OSlevel virtualization to slice a physical server into virtual machines. The data plane of a virtual router runs in an isolated virtual machine so as to safe for customization. We design a new user mode packet processing scheme for virtual routers hosted in Europa to achieve high speed forwarding. Experiments show that an Europa virtual router can be four times faster than conventional user mode software router.