Send duplicate packets over two Internet connections

Question

I need to duplicate an RTP stream over two different (non-reliable) Internet connections.

On the receiver side, I will probably run a custom program that will use a buffer and rebuild the stream before using it.

But I have some trouble in splitting the traffic over the two connections. I did some research and found that maybe tc (part of iproute2) could be what I need.

Solution

The Linux kernel version 2.6.35 introduces a new configuration option CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_TARGET_TEE:

This option adds a "TEE" target with which a packet can be cloned and this clone be rerouted to another nexthop.

Iptables supports the -j TEE target since 1.4.8.

Earlier support was through the xtables addons, which include both kernel modules and userland tools. You may still prefer this option if you prefer to stick with your distribution's kernel and it's too old to have TEE.

There's a tutorial by bjou (written before the feature was included in the official kernel and iptables).

Comments

[Admin]

@Gilles seems like the way to go, your comment should be an answer, so that I can accept it.

[Admin]

See also Copying packets from an interface to another

[Andrea Spadaccini]

It is a mobility scenario: a mobile user uses two different network providers, so that the same data goes to the receiver in the event that one (or the other) has no signal. I'd avoid TCP if possible. Thanks!

[BillThor]

@Andrea: I would configure the mobile users system to connect using whichever connection is up. This would eliminate the duplication issue.

[Andrea Spadaccini]

I need to do evaluation of different strategies, duplication is just one of them. :)

[L.R.]

Webpage with tutorial requires password :(