[Sandbox] LoxiLB

[nik-netlox]

Application contact emails

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Project Summary

eBPF based cloud-native external load-balancer for 5G/6G/MEC

Project Description

LoxiLB is a fully open-source cloud-native "external" service load-balancer for cloud-native edge workloads written from scratch using eBPF as its core-engine and based on Go Language. LoxiLB turns Kubernetes network load balancing into high speed, flexible and programmable LB services. It automates the tasks of external load balancer administration: deployment, bootstrapping, configuration, provisioning, scaling, upgrading, migration, routing, monitoring, and resource management. Although, it is primarily designed to support bare-metal on-premise and edge cluster deployments, it should run equally well in any cloud environment. LoxiLB utilizes the flexibility of the Kubernetes platform to deliver its services via a Kubernetes Operator for each on-prem cloud (k8s CCM) provider.

Org repo URL

https://github.com/loxilb-io/

Project repo URL

https://github.com/loxilb-io/loxilb

Additional repos

https://github.com/loxilb-io/loxilb-ebpf https://github.com/loxilb-io/loxilbdocs https://github.com/loxilb-io/loxi-ccm https://github.com/loxilb-io/loxicmd https://github.com/loxilb-io/kube-loxilb

Website URL

https://www.loxilb.io/

Roadmap

https://github.com/loxilb-io/loxilbdocs/blob/main/docs/roadmap.md

Roadmap context

No response

Contributing Guide

https://github.com/loxilb-io/loxilb/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md

Code of Conduct (CoC)

https://github.com/loxilb-io/loxilb/blob/main/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md

Adopters

No response

Contributing or Sponsoring Org

https://www.netlox.io/

Maintainers file

https://github.com/loxilb-io/loxilb/blob/main/AUTHORS

IP Policy

• [X] If the project is accepted, I agree the project will follow the CNCF IP Policy

Trademark and accounts

• [X] If the project is accepted, I agree to donate all project trademarks and accounts to the CNCF

Why CNCF?

LoxiLB was designed to be cloud-native load-balancer, enabling Linux's eBPF technology to be used as its core engine. We have brought LoxiLB to a state where it can show its true potential. We are seeking visibility, community adoption and contributors to take it to the next level. The CNCF can provide the necessary guidance, platform, visibility, and support for LoxiLB.

Benefit to the Landscape

LoxiLB is trying to fill the gap in the Edge Computing. Edge services are a different ball game altogether since there are so many exotic protocols in play like GTP, SCTP, SRv6 etc and integrating everything into a seamlessly working solution has been quite difficult. LoxiLB provides load balancer services for all these protocols, and it was made easy with eBPF technology by Linux. During the journey of LoxiLB's development, we developed many other generic networking/security/visibility features in it using eBPF which can be used for various other purposes not specific to load-balancer only. But we decided to stick our original name LoxiLB as load-balancing will continue to be its main purpose in the foreseeable future. LoxiLB team hopes the open-source community finds it helpful.

Cloud Native 'Fit'

LoxiLB offers service as external load-balancer in Kubernetes environment. LoxiLB turns Kubernetes network load balancing into high speed, flexible and programmable LB services. It automates the tasks of external load balancer administration: deployment, bootstrapping, configuration, provisioning, scaling, upgrading, migration, routing, monitoring, and resource management. LoxiLB utilizes the flexibility of the Kubernetes platform to deliver its services via a Kubernetes Operator for each on-prem cloud (k8s CCM) provider.

Cloud Native 'Integration'

• Kubernetes: Offers service as external load-balancer
• docker: LoxiLB can be deployed as a docker container

Cloud Native Overlap

LoxiLB does have some overlapping functionality with MetalLB and Openelb project as they are also external load-balancers.

Similar projects

Similar project to LoxiLB would be MetalLB and Openelb. The key differentiating factor is that LoxiLB offers Load balancer services using eBPF technology specifically for 5G/6G/MEC specific protocols e.g., GTP, SRv6, SCTP, Multi-Homing etc.

Product or Service to Project separation

N/A

Project presentations

No

Project champions

N/A

Additional information

N/A

[dims]

@nik-netlox is https://github.com/loxilb-io/loxilb-ebpf missed out on purpose or an oversight?

[nik-netlox]

@dims , it was an oversight. I am adding it in the additional repos.

[nik-netlox]

We have recently released kube-loxilb (loxilb's implementation of kubernetes service load-balancer spec). I have updated the same in additional repos as well.

[nikhita]

Recommend we 'Postpone' this and have the project present to TAG Network for feedback, increase awareness, and receive more contributions. Also recommend reaching out to TAG Contributor Strategy for methods to increase contributions (from multiple companies).

[nik-netlox]

Thank you for reviewing our application and recommendations. LoxiLB has 7 dedicated developers and is constantly growing in popularity and contributions from other users. Recently, it crossed 500+ stars on the github. We are taking every step possible to extend it's reach. We will reach out to TAG contributor strategy and re-apply after sometime.

[amye]

Checking in, it's been a little over a year in here. Still interested?

[nik-netlox]

Hi @amye, Yes, we are interested in re-applying. Should I re-open this issue or create a new one?

[amye]

Let's reopen this one and add more details in here.

[nik-netlox]

Thanks for reconsidering our application. As suggested in the last ToC meeting, we reached out to TAG Contributor strategy and discussed. And, as per their feedback we have incorporated a few changes including adding Maintainer's policy.

To summarize the loxilb project growth since last meeting:

• Adoptions from multiple organizations.
• Contributors from different organizations and a few independent contributors as well(including user blogs).
• Increased user base.

In terms of metrics:

Metric	Previous	Current
Stars	500+	1.3k+
Contributors	7	12
Package Download	20k+	90k+
Forks	20+	73
No. of Commits	1200+	2400+

[dims]

Is there some feedback from TAG Network folks? @leecalcote perhaps?

[TheFoxAtWork]

Once we hear from TAG Network, we will add to the Upcoming column for the next Sandbox meeting (today's got a full agenda)

[nicholasjackson]

@nik-netlox I am a new Chair to TAG Network so please accept my apologies for my lack of knowledge. I would love to learn more about the tool. I think it would also be really beneficial for the wider TAG Network community. Would love to discuss this more with you, we have our bi-weekly meeting on Thursday at 9PST. Or feel free to DM me I am NicJ on CNCF slack.

[nik-netlox]

We presented LoxiLB in the TAG Network Meeting held on 25th April 2024. Thanks @nicholasjackson for providing us the opportunity to present and discuss its use-cases. Please find the presented ppt with demo video here.

[nicholasjackson]

@TheFoxAtWork Hi Emily, @nik-netlox presented their project to us during the bi-weekly meeting, we also chatted Friday last week. TAG Network is very happy to back LoxiLB's nomination for Sandbox, we feel that LoxiLB is widely useful to all Cloud Native users, it is specifically addresses many use cases and requirements specific to the telecommunications industry.

I apologise but I could not find if there are any minimum metrics on contributors for inclusion, Loxi have been expanding their contributor diversity and are continuing to grow this. Inclusion as a sandbox project would also assist this growth.

Happy to chat about any of these and support the application during the next TOC sandbox meeting.

Kind regards,

Nic

[TheFoxAtWork]

thanks @nicholasjackson !! CC @jeefy for updating the sandbox queue.

[TheFoxAtWork]

@mrbobbytables @jeefy This project needs moved to the top of the upcoming queue for our next sandbox mtg. It appears we missed moving this over.

[linsun]

Hi @nik-netlox - The project looks solid! Since the review with TAG network on April 25 2024, I'm curious how the contributions have been outside the main company Netlox, which all of the maintainers are from.

[nik-netlox]

Thank you @linsun, Including all the repos, we have 7 contributors from our organization for LoxiLB and more than 10 contributors from outside our organization. Also, we are compiling a list of adoptors/users and will add it in our github soon.

I will summarize our project's growth since the TAG Network meeting with the stats from the main repo:

Metric	Mar 2023	Apr 2024	Jul 2024
Stars	500+	1.2k+	1.3k+
Total Contributors	7	12	16
Package Download	20k+	90k+	131k+
Forks	20+	73	86
No. of Commits	1200+	2400+	2800+

Additionally,

• Samsung Electronics presented a solution for 5G with LoxiLB in an event called NAVER CLOUD MASTER DAY 2024.(The language is Korean, please use google translate for English).
• Researchers from a University in EU chose LoxiLB and published a Research Paper.

[nik-netlox]

LoxiLB's Adopters list has been added in the github.

[xmulligan]

TAG Contributor strategy has reviewed this project and found the following:

• The contributor guide is basic.
• The governance is a maintainers council and is complete.
• The roadmap is a feature based list and appears up to date.
• There are 5 maintainers, who all work for Netlox.
• There were 9 external contributors in the past year.

This review is for the TOC’s information only. Sandbox projects are not required to have full governance or contributor documentation.

[nik-netlox]

@xmulligan , Thank you for reviewing our application but to clarify regarding external contributors in the past year, we had 9 external contributors. Please refer to the github stats from the main repo.

[xmulligan]

Sorry my mistake, I was looking at the docs repo instead by accident. I've updated the comment above now.

[jberkus]

You declined to answer "Product or Service to Project separation". Given that you are a small company, and LoxiLB appears to be related to all of your company's products, you need to fill out that section. Thanks.

[nik-netlox]

Thanks @jberkus for pointing it out. I have updated the application.

Netlox is into cloud-native consulting, education and solutions. LoxiLB was started as a side-project to fill in the gaps we found while building cloud-native solutions with the user community. LoxiLB's roadmap is essentially driven by the community feedback and requirements. That will remain to be so in the foreseeable future. Netlox uses unmodified open-source LoxiLB as it is in some of its solutions and also commercially supports anyone who needs SLA backed support.

[jberkus]

Thanks, that looks good.

[mrbobbytables]

/vote

[git-vote[bot]]

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@mrbobbytables has called for a vote on [Sandbox] LoxiLB (#9).

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[nsko]

I am from ETRI in South Korea. Our consortium consists of {ETRI, SK Telecom, LGU+, etc}. We are co-working with loxilb team for the Korea Gov R&D project(Evolved SBA Framework for 5G/6G Mobile Core). We are planning to provide guidance in cloud-native telco area and also act as Maintainer pending internal approval.

[seokho-son]

Hello! I am a CNCF Ambassador based in South Korea. I'm excited to see that the useful open-source project Loxilb is up for a vote to enter the CNCF Sandbox. The Loxilb contributors have been actively sharing valuable networking technologies and information, especially within the Korean Kubernetes User Group. I am hopeful for a positive outcome! My sign of support: 👍

[UltraInstinct14]

/check-vote