From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Ben Greear Subject: Offering presents for more routing tables! Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 06:45:51 -0700 Message-ID: <4490130F.3030005@candelatech.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Return-path: Received: from ns2.lanforge.com ([66.165.47.211]:5012 "EHLO ns2.lanforge.com") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S964926AbWFNNpw (ORCPT ); Wed, 14 Jun 2006 09:45:52 -0400 Received: from [71.112.216.116] (pool-71-112-216-116.sttlwa.dsl-w.verizon.net [71.112.216.116]) (authenticated bits=0) by ns2.lanforge.com (8.13.4/8.13.4) with ESMTP id k5EDjpmP002348 for ; Wed, 14 Jun 2006 06:45:52 -0700 To: NetDev Sender: netdev-owner@vger.kernel.org List-Id: netdev.vger.kernel.org I've asked for this feature several years ago and evidently it is not trivial to increase the number of routing tables. But, perhaps someone now has time & inclination? I would like to have more (a few thousand) routing tables available in the kernel so that I can use a routing table for each of my many VLANs. Currently, the netlink protocol only specifies an 8-bit id for the routing table: http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc3549.html Section 3.1.1 so a new netlink message would need to be created and the 'ip' tool updated. I think at least a 16-bit identifier should be used, possibly a full 32 bits so we don't have to revisit this again for a while! The kernel itself would also need to be modified so that it can have more routing tables. I realize most people don't need a large number of tables, so the maximum number should be configured at either compile time or run time. If I remember right, there are certain tables (253 - 255) that are currently special in the kernel. For complete backwards compatibility, this hole would probably have to remain as it is, with the new tables starting at 256. I would be willing to help test any resulting patches, and can also offer bribes of money, hardware, beer, etc. Thanks, Ben -- Ben Greear Candela Technologies Inc http://www.candelatech.com