Skip to content

Network Stack

The Kernel NET stack, also known as the Linux network stack, is the part of the Linux kernel responsible for handling all network-related functionality. It is a crucial component of the operating system, as it enables communication between the system and external networks.

The Kernel NET stack consists of several key components:

  1. Network Protocols:

  2. The network stack implements various network protocols, such as TCP/IP, UDP, ICMP, and others.

  3. These protocols define the rules and standards for how data is transmitted over the network.

  4. The stack provides an interface for higher-level applications to interact with these protocols.

  5. Network Devices:

  6. The network stack manages the network interface cards (NICs) and other network hardware.

  7. It provides a consistent interface for applications to interact with the network devices, abstracting away the underlying hardware details.

  8. The stack is responsible for configuring and controlling the network devices, such as setting IP addresses, enabling/disabling interfaces, and more.

  9. Packet Routing:

  10. The network stack is responsible for routing network packets between different network interfaces and devices.

  11. It maintains routing tables and uses various routing algorithms to determine the best path for data to reach its destination.

  12. The routing subsystem ensures that network traffic is properly forwarded and delivered to the correct destination.

  13. Network Security:

  14. The network stack includes features for network security, such as firewalling, packet filtering, and network address translation (NAT).

  15. These security mechanisms help protect the system from network-based attacks and ensure the integrity of network communication.

  16. Socket Interface:

  17. The network stack provides a standard socket interface for applications to send and receive network data.

  18. This interface allows applications to create, configure, and use network sockets for communication, abstracting away the low-level details of the network protocols.

  19. Network Namespaces:

  20. The network stack supports network namespaces, which allow for the creation of isolated network environments within a single Linux system.
  21. Network namespaces provide a way to partition network resources, such as network interfaces, routing tables, and firewall rules, to create independent network stacks for different applications or containers.

Simple Kernel Network Schema