Snabb Switch is a new open source toolkit for using Linux/x86 servers to solve high-end networking problems. Snabb Switch is used by network operators who need to process up to 100 Gbps of network traffic per server and its application areas include load generation, line-rate packet capture, firewalling, VPN, and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) for OpenStack.
I will explain the architecture of Snabb Switch, how it is able to process over 100 Gbps of traffic on an ordinary x86 server, and how LuaJIT makes it possible for a grassroots community to build Snabb Switch with only around 10,000 lines of code.
I will also describe how network operators are using Snabb Switch as an alternative to hardware solutions from traditional network equipment vendors.