eBPF: The Future of Linux Networking and Observability

For decades, the Linux kernel was a "black box." If you wanted to change how it handled packets, you had to write a complex kernel module or wait for a community update. eBPF changes everything.

Programmable Kernel

eBPF allows you to run sandboxed program inside the Linux kernel at astronomical speeds. It can intercept every packet, every system call, and every file access without the overhead of context switching.

Use Cases

• High-Speed Load Balancing: Facebook and Cloudflare use eBPF to drop DDoS packets before they even reach the network stack.
• Deep Observability: Tools like Cilium use eBPF to map exactly how microservices are talking to each other.
• Runtime Security: Detect and block suspicious behavior (like a web server suddenly opening a shell) in real-time.