IPlayer

IPLayer is a modular, open-source library that implements the Internet Protocol (IP) layer for software-defined networks, embedded devices, and network simulators. The project focuses on providing a configurable, high-performance IP layer that can operate in user space or as part of a larger networking stack. IPLayer supports both IPv4 and IPv6, including header parsing and construction, fragmentation and reassembly, and ICMP message handling. It exposes a clean API for injecting and receiving IP packets, and for coordinating with a transport layer (such as TCP or UDP) and with the link layer through pluggable drivers.

The architecture emphasizes portability and modularity: the IP processing core is decoupled from the link-layer driver, enabling integration with various hardware or virtual interfaces. A zero-copy packet buffer system minimizes memory copies. The library supports configurable MTU, fragmentation policies, and basic IP routing hooks to integrate with routing logic or SDN controllers. It also includes facilities for diagnostics, statistics, and trace hooks for debugging.

Common use cases include building custom routers or gateways, network emulation and testing environments, SDN/NFV deployments, or research projects requiring a controllable IP layer without a full kernel network stack. Development is collaborative, with documentation and examples illustrating typical integration patterns. IPLayer is intended as a building block within broader networking solutions and is not a complete replacement for a full IP/tcp/udp stack.