NetFPGA-SBI

This work is aimed at enhancing the P4->NetFPGA project by enabling the implementation of remotely-controllable routing tables.

In order to make use of the contents of this repository, one should first gain access to the P4->NetFPGA github repository and perform the initial setup as described here.

Steps for integrating our contribution in the P4->NetFPGA Workflow

1. Create a new P4 project named standalone_switch by running $ $SUME_SDNET/bin/make_new_p4_proj.py standalone_switch. This will create a template project in $SUME_SDNET/projects/.
2. Update $SUME_FOLDER/tools/settings.sh in order to set the P4_PROJECT_NAME environment variable to standalone_switch.
3. Paste the files commands.txt, SBI_engine.p4 and standalone_switch.p4 that you will find in /p4_code inside $P4_PROJECT_DIR/standalone_switch/src, replacing the already existing files. SBI_engine.p4 contains the definition of the control module responsible for packet routing, while standalone_switch.p4 is a dummy P4 program that is currently implementing TCP monitor's functionality and can be adapted to other applications.
4. Paste the directory cam_lut that you will find in /extern_function in $SUME_SDNET/templates/externs.
5. Paste the file bin.patch present in /extern_function in $SUME_SDNET, then apply the patch by using patch -p0 < bin.patch. This will update $SUME_SDNET/bin/extern_data.py by including the path to our new extern function and the related replacements.
6. Paste the files gen_testdata.py, and southbound_headers.py that you will find in /testdata inside $P4_PROJECT_DIR/standalone_switch/testdata, replacing the already existing files. southbound_headers.py contains the definitions of the packets used in our SBI protocol.
7. Paste /sw in $P4_PROJECT_DIR. This directory contains the files used to test the physical board after it has been programmed.