NG_SPLIT(4)

📦 version 15.1, in freebsd 14.5, freebsd 15.1, nixpkgs unstable

💅 ng_split(4) — the netgraph split node, explained by your favorite Unix bestie

okay so real talk, this page is from the Kernel Interfaces Manual and it's literally called NG_SPLIT(4) — say it with me, it's giving "bidirectional stream goes brrr and then gets un-bidirectionaled" 🦋

✨ NAME ✨

ng_split — a netgraph node that separates your incoming flow from your outgoing flow, no cap 🎀

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

#include <netgraph/ng_split.h>

that's it. that's the include. iconic behavior honestly 💅

🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

bestie, here's the whole vibe: the split node type takes a bidirectional stream of packets and splits it into two separate unidirectional streams of packets. one way in, one way out, zero drama. 🔥

🦋 HOOKS 🦋

this node type supports the following three hooks — count 'em, three, i'm obsessed:

  • in — packets received on in get forwarded to mixed. slay, that's the whole job.
  • out — packets received on out are discarded as illegal 💀 like, don't do that. that's not what this hook is for, bestie.
  • mixed — packets received on mixed get forwarded to out. yes queen, straight through.

⭐ CONTROL MESSAGES ⭐

this node type supports only the generic control messages. that's it. no special extras, no secret menu, nothing. lowkey refreshing ngl 🙈

🧚 SHUTDOWN 🧚

this node shuts down when it receives a NGM_SHUTDOWN control message, or when all hooks have been disconnected. either one, whichever comes first. bye bestie 👋

🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

go read those, they're the main character energy this page is supporting 🫶

👑 HISTORY 👑

the ng_split node type was implemented in FreeBSD 3.5 but incorporated into FreeBSD in FreeBSD 5.0. yes, the lore is real, and yes, the timeline is a little unhinged. we love a glow-up era 💖

🍓 AUTHORS 🍓

  • Julian Elischer <julian@FreeBSD.org>
  • Vitaly V. Belekhov <vitaly@riss-telecom.ru>

give them their flowers, they built this 🎀

💜 okay that's the whole page, nothing skipped, every flag and hook accounted for. go split some packets responsibly.

Debian • February 19, 2001 • NG_SPLIT(4) — mwah, drink water, and remember: it's literally in the manual 💅✨

📦 where this page comes from