White Paper: Mitigating DDoS Attacks in Virtualized Environments with eBPF and XDP

Fast packet processing technologies like Extended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF)/Express Data Path (XDP) and the Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK) have emerged as game-changers, significantly boosting network packet throughput beyond traditional Linux kernel capabilities. However, these approaches require operator intervention due to their programmable nature. This research explores the potential of eBPF/XDP, a proven method for mitigating Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, in the context of virtualized environments leveraging Virtual Machines (VMs).

Mitigating DDoS Attacks Experiment on Virtualized Environments

Explore the effectiveness of eBPF/XDP in protecting virtualized environments from DDoS attacks. Learn how these efficient packet processing methods can be applied in cloud environments, reducing CPU usage and boosting performance. Dive into our research experiment, and download our whitepaper for excellent insights, results, and limitations.

Maximizing Network Security with eBPF/XDP in Virtualized Environments

In our research whitepaper, we undertake a comprehensive, novel experiment, in which we’ve configured a server to host a VM within a DDoS attack scenario. This investigation aims to evaluate the feasibility of implementing eBPF/XDP in cloud environments for DDoS mitigation, shedding light on potential challenges and limitations in the process.

  • VM Programmed for Attack Mitigation:
    The VM is purposefully configured to counter incoming attack traffic, employing Uncomplicated Firewall (UFW) and eBPF/XDP.

  • Hypervisor Routing and CPU Analysis:
    Our experiment extends beyond measuring packet throughput; we meticulously analyze CPU usage while implementing intelligent routing by the hypervisor under various incoming packet loads.

  • Promising Results with eBPF/XDP:
    The experiment yields promising results, showcasing the superior performance of eBPF/XDP technologies, with a caveat – optimal performance is dependent on the hypervisor’s ability to deliver a sufficient packet stream to the VM. Furthermore, our research reveals that VMs utilizing eBPF/XDP maintain lower CPU usage, even when handling high packet volumes.

Ontdek hoe eBPF en XDP je gevirtualiseerde omgevingen kunnen beschermen tegen DDoS-bedreigingen. Lees ons whitepaper voor een grondig overzicht van ons onderzoek.

DDoS-aanvallen effectief verminderen met eBPF en XDP

SUE heeft al meer dan twee decennia ervaring en een toegewijd team van meer dan honderd experts in Cloud Native. We delen graag onze kennis met jou. Krijg alle informatie die je nodig hebt in één handig overzicht met onze whitepaper. Vraag vandaag nog jouw exemplaar aan via e-mail. Onze whitepapers bieden praktisch advies aan organisaties voor het ontwerpen, bouwen, onderhouden, beheren, verbeteren en innoveren van hun IT-infrastructuur en bedrijfstoepassingen.

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