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# What is eBPF?
- URL: https://devopscube.com/ebpf/
- Published: 2023-07-23T18:46:17.000Z
- Updated: 2025-09-24T09:48:26.000Z
- Author: Bibin Wilson
- Tags: BYTES, EBPF, #Migrated-1741795015845, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2025-03-12 15:57, #blog

eBPF, or Extended Berkeley Packet Filter, is a recent addition to the Linux kernel, fully available since the Linux 4.4 release.

It is a highly efficient, **sandboxed virtual machine** within the Linux kernel that allows for the kernel to be programmable at native execution speed.

This means that you can extend the capabilities of the kernel **without having to modify the kernel's source code**, making it a powerful tool for developers and system administrators.

For example, when a **read system call** event occurs, you can run a BPF program. This allows for a high degree of customization and control over system behavior.

eBPF has a wide range of use cases, including:

1. **Security**: eBPF can be used to implement advanced security mechanisms, such as intrusion detection systems or firewalls. It can monitor system calls, network packets, and other events for suspicious activity.
2. **Networking Tracing**: eBPF can trace network packets as they pass through the various layers of the network stack, providing detailed information about network behavior and performance.
3. **Profiling**: eBPF can be used to profile system performance, helping to identify bottlenecks and optimize system behavior.
4. **Observability**: eBPF provides a powerful tool for system observability, allowing for detailed monitoring of system events and behavior.
5. **Monitoring**: eBPF can be used to implement advanced system monitoring tools, providing real-time information about system performance and behavior.

Major companies like **Google, Facebook, and Netflix** have already implemented eBPF for various use cases in their production systems, demonstrating the power and flexibility of this technology.

In the context of **Kubernetes**, the open-source network plugin Cilium uses BPF for Kubernetes networking, providing advanced networking features and performance enhancements.

Furthermore, the Linux kernel development community has announced **bpfilter**, which will replace the in-kernel iptables implementation with a high-performance, Linux-based BPF network filtering mechanism. This represents a significant advancement in Linux networking technology.

In conclusion, eBPF is a powerful and flexible technology that can greatly enhance the capabilities of the Linux kernel. Whether you're a developer, a system administrator, or just a tech enthusiast, understanding and utilizing eBPF can provide significant benefits.

## BPF Learning resources

\[1\]. [Getting Started With eBPF](https://ebpf.io/what-is-ebpf/?ref=devopscube.com)

\[2\]. [How to Make Linux Microservice-Aware with Cilium and eBPF](https://www.infoq.com/presentations/linux-cilium-ebpf/?ref=devopscube.com) — \[\[[Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=%5FIq1xxNZOAo&ref=devopscube.com)\]

\[3\]. [Brendan Gregg, Senior Performance Engineer, Netflix Performance and OS Team, explores the past, present and future of BPF, and describes use cases.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pmXdG8-7WU&ref=devopscube.com)

\[4\]. [BPF Comes to Firewall](https://lwn.net/Articles/747551/?ref=devopscube.com)

\[5\]. [How companies like Facebook and Google use BPF to patch 0-day exploits](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-oTe-dmfyI&ref=devopscube.com)

\[6\] [Cloudflare Production ready eBPF](https://blog.cloudflare.com/tubular-fixing-the-socket-api-with-ebpf/?ref=devopscube.com)

\[7\]. [Replacing iptables with eBPF in Kubernetes with Cilium](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrP7hk-EW4U&ref=devopscube.com)

\[8\]. [Cilium Kubernetes Network Plugin](https://github.com/cilium/cilium?ref=devopscube.com)

\[9\]. [eBPF: exploring use case of BPF kernel infrastructure](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LoWZMxKaA0&ref=devopscube.com)

\[10\]. [BPF - the forgotten bytecode](https://blog.cloudflare.com/bpf-the-forgotten-bytecode/?ref=devopscube.com)