Understanding Linux Network Internals

Christian BenvenutiBR O'Reilly, 1st Edition, 2005BR ISBN 0-596-00255-6BR

This book gives a great overview of the linux networking internals. In particular, it describes what happens during frame transmission and reception in great detail. I like this book because it gives the big picture along and ties it with the actual code.

What can you learn? (among other things)

• What is an sk_buff and how to manipulate it.

• How NAPI and non-NAPI drivers process packets in 2.6.x kernels.

• How netif_rx, netif_rx_schedule, netif_rx_action, and netif_receive_skb work.

• Where are the IP netfilter hooks.
• How the bridging code works and where it puts netfilter hooks.

Kernel Versions and Reviews

• Covers linux kernel 2.6.

• [http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/understandlni/ O'Reilly page]

• See [http://lwn.net/Articles/168894/ LWN.net review] and [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0596002556 Amazon.com reviews].