A Linux Kernel Implementation of Broadcast Interflow Network Coding.

The explosion of net-centric applications in the DoD tactical edge has increased pressure on DoD communications systems to maximize bandwidth efficiency amidst a shrinking allocation of RF spectrum. Coupled with the need for reliable transmissions at the tactical edge, non-standard techniques are increasingly being assessed for their suitability in military networks. One such method is applying Network Coding to provide bandwidth efficiency and increased reliability by sending linear combinations of packet data across multiple paths. While there have been many userspace network coding implementations available in the open source community and in academia, there are no known Linux kernel broadcast network coding implementations. Because the majority of network functionality is in the kernel, a network coding kernel implementation would greatly speed up packet processing, reduce needless userspace copying, and allow researchers to study its effects in real-world environments. In this paper, we present a Linux kernel implementation of inter-flow network coding using XOR for broadcast traffic over broadcast links. In addition to the design and layout, we provide a basic functional evaluation to demonstrate its effectiveness in reducing bandwidth requirements.