xref: /dpdk/doc/guides/nics/overview.rst (revision 0d907b11bbe012f6fe4403f8ecf5e077a64ca1e2)
1f83a3d3fSOlivier Matz..  SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
2e45ae706SThomas Monjalon    Copyright 2016 6WIND S.A.
3e45ae706SThomas Monjalon
4e45ae706SThomas MonjalonOverview of Networking Drivers
5e45ae706SThomas Monjalon==============================
6e45ae706SThomas Monjalon
7e45ae706SThomas MonjalonThe networking drivers may be classified in two categories:
8e45ae706SThomas Monjalon
9e45ae706SThomas Monjalon- physical for real devices
10e45ae706SThomas Monjalon- virtual for emulated devices
11e45ae706SThomas Monjalon
12e45ae706SThomas MonjalonSome physical devices may be shaped through a virtual layer as for
13e45ae706SThomas MonjalonSR-IOV.
14e45ae706SThomas MonjalonThe interface seen in the virtual environment is a VF (Virtual Function).
15e45ae706SThomas Monjalon
16e45ae706SThomas MonjalonThe ethdev layer exposes an API to use the networking functions
17e45ae706SThomas Monjalonof these devices.
18e45ae706SThomas MonjalonThe bottom half part of ethdev is implemented by the drivers.
19e45ae706SThomas MonjalonThus some features may not be implemented.
20e45ae706SThomas Monjalon
21e45ae706SThomas MonjalonThere are more differences between drivers regarding some internal properties,
22e45ae706SThomas Monjalonportability or even documentation availability.
23e45ae706SThomas MonjalonMost of these differences are summarized below.
24e45ae706SThomas Monjalon
25dad1ec72SFerruh YigitMore details about features can be found in :doc:`features`.
26dad1ec72SFerruh Yigit
27*0d907b11SThomas Monjalon.. rst-class:: widepage
28*0d907b11SThomas Monjalon
29e45ae706SThomas Monjalon.. _table_net_pmd_features:
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319db3f521SJohn McNamara.. include:: overview_table.txt
32d9ba0b2cSJohn McNamara
33d9ba0b2cSJohn McNamara.. Note::
34d9ba0b2cSJohn McNamara
35f994cecaSJerin Jacob   Features marked with "P" are partially supported. Refer to the appropriate
36d9ba0b2cSJohn McNamara   NIC guide in the following sections for details.
370a91cdd4SThomas Monjalon
380a91cdd4SThomas Monjalon.. include:: rte_flow_items_table.txt
390a91cdd4SThomas Monjalon
400a91cdd4SThomas Monjalon.. include:: rte_flow_actions_table.txt
410a91cdd4SThomas Monjalon
420a91cdd4SThomas Monjalon.. Note::
430a91cdd4SThomas Monjalon
440a91cdd4SThomas Monjalon   rte_flow actions marked with "I" can be indirect as well.
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