5) PINT BOX

PINT-BoX: Path-aware networking IN a Tofino BoX

PINT-BoX, a Path-Aware Networking using the PolKA source routing approach, in combination with the P7 emulation experimentation tool built on a Tofino box. It is designed for experimentation on a Tofino-based system, demonstrating the creation of various network topologies emulated within a P4-programmable switch. The demo highlights the flexibility and capabilities of the platform in exploring diverse network paths and configurations. The proposed design gives endpoints full control over multiple paths within a given topology, each with distinct network metrics, allowing them to change the path without the need to reconfigure the network core.

Requirements

• git
• python3
• matplotlib
• networkX
• regex
• polka-routing

Download

git clone https://github.com/intrig-unicamp/p7.git
cd p7
git checkout polka

Run PINT-BoX

Prepare the Environment

Five open terminals are recommended.

1. Compile P4 code and run Tofino.
2. Load table information and configure ports.
3. Create the topology and generate files.
4. Host 1.
5. Host 2.

Create the Topology and Generate Files

In Terminal 3, edit the main.py file with the topology, ports, and links information.

cd p7
nano main.p7

Generate the necessary files.

python main.py

Place the files in the correct directories.

./set_files.sh

Compile P4 Code and Run Tofino Switch

In Terminal 1, compile the P4 code using the official P4 compiler.

If you are using P4 Studio, follow the next steps to compile the P4 codes:

cd bf-sde-9.13.2

. ../tools/set_sde.bash

Compile the custom P4 code (calculator use case):

../tools/p4_build.sh ~/p7/p4src/p7calc_mod.p4 

Compile P7's p4 code

../tools/p4_build.sh ~/p7/p4src/p7_polka.p4

Run the switch:

./run_switchd.sh -p p7_polka p7calc_mod -c ~/p7/p4src/multiprogram_custom_bfrt.conf

Load the Tables and Set Ports

In Terminal 2:

cd bf-sde-9.13.2

. ../tools/set_sde.bash

Load table information:

bfshell -b ~p7/files/bfrt.py

Configure ports:

bfshell -f ~/p7/files/ports_config.txt -i

Send Traffic

In Terminal 4, access host 1.

Configure the VLAN for P7 (change the interface name and the IP for your setup):

sudo ip link add link enp3s0f0 name enp3s0f0.1920 type vlan id 1920

sudo ifconfig enp3s0f0.1920 192.168.0.10 up

In Terminal 5, access host 2.

Configure the VLAN for P7 (change the interface name and the IP for your setup):

sudo ip link add link enp6s0f0 name enp6s0f0.1920 type vlan id 1920

sudo ifconfig enp6s0f0.1920 192.168.0.20 up

To validate the route that PolKa is using to reach the destination, you can use the TTL field.

The file calculator shows the information of the tables and the result of the TTL when it reaches the destination.

For example, a ping from H1 to H2:

ping 192.168.0.20

The response should have a TTL of 103* (64 + 40).

*The initial TTL is 64.

Slice

To validate a specific route, use ping with Type of Service (ToS). Then, you can specify the ToS value:

ping 192.168.0.20 -Q 20