Linux eBPF (extended Berkeley Packet Filter) is a revolutionary technology that allows running sandboxed programs in the kernel without changing kernel source code or loading kernel modules. This article provides a deep dive into eBPF architecture, including the BPF virtual machine, maps, and helper functions. It explores key use cases such as performance observability with tools like bcc and bpftrace, security monitoring, and programmable networking with XDP and tc. eBPF is increasingly adopted in cloud-native environments for service mesh, load balancing, and container networking. The article also discusses the eBPF CO-RE (Compile Once, Run Everywhere) approach and its integration with Kubernetes. For engineers building modern infrastructure, understanding eBPF is essential for achieving high performance and deep visibility.
A comprehensive guide to Linux eBPF, covering architecture, kernel observability, and programmable networking for modern infrastructure.