[openib-general] RE: [PATCH] [ib_addr] generalize address to RDMA device translation

[Sean Hefty]

Caitlin Bestler wrote:
> Sniffing is a workaround. Subscription is the correct
> solution here for long term stability.
> 
> Subscription is also the only solution that will correctly
> respond when the system administrator has manually loaded
> an ARP entry.
> 
> This also applies to Routing and ICMP.

To clarify, ib_addr does not actually "sniff" ARPs.  It simply uses them to 
schedule its workqueue thread to check for updates.  Manually loaded ARP entries 
would the same as any previously loaded entries.  If there is a subscription 
based mechanism that can be used as well or instead, it should be 
straightforward to update ib_addr.  I am just not familiar enough with the Linux 
network stack to know if such a mechanism exists.

- Sean