Stop leaking goroutines past Control.Stop, consolidate punching in Punchy (#1708)

2026-05-15 20:37:36 +02:00 · 2026-05-06 16:21:16 -05:00
parent 4fb5cdb4fa
commit 213dd46588
12 changed files with 434 additions and 179 deletions
--- a/connection_manager.go
+++ b/connection_manager.go
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import (
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"

-	"github.com/rcrowley/go-metrics"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/header"
@@ -45,19 +44,16 @@ type connectionManager struct {
 	inactivityTimeout       atomic.Int64
 	dropInactive            atomic.Bool

-	metricsTxPunchy metrics.Counter
-
 	l *slog.Logger
 }

 func newConnectionManagerFromConfig(l *slog.Logger, c *config.C, hm *HostMap, p *Punchy) *connectionManager {
 	cm := &connectionManager{
-		hostMap:         hm,
-		l:               l,
-		punchy:          p,
-		relayUsed:       make(map[uint32]struct{}),
-		relayUsedLock:   &sync.RWMutex{},
-		metricsTxPunchy: metrics.GetOrRegisterCounter("messages.tx.punchy", nil),
+		hostMap:       hm,
+		l:             l,
+		punchy:        p,
+		relayUsed:     make(map[uint32]struct{}),
+		relayUsedLock: &sync.RWMutex{},
 	}

 	cm.reload(c, true)
@@ -369,7 +365,7 @@ func (cm *connectionManager) makeTrafficDecision(localIndex uint32, now time.Tim

 		if !outTraffic {
 			// Send a punch packet to keep the NAT state alive
-			cm.sendPunch(hostinfo)
+			cm.punchy.SendPunch(hostinfo)
 		}

 		return decision, hostinfo, primary
@@ -400,17 +396,16 @@ func (cm *connectionManager) makeTrafficDecision(localIndex uint32, now time.Tim

 			// If we aren't sending or receiving traffic then its an unused tunnel and we don't to test the tunnel.
 			// Just maintain NAT state if configured to do so.
-			cm.sendPunch(hostinfo)
+			cm.punchy.SendPunch(hostinfo)
 			cm.trafficTimer.Add(hostinfo.localIndexId, cm.checkInterval)
 			return doNothing, nil, nil
 		}

-		if cm.punchy.GetTargetEverything() {
-			// This is similar to the old punchy behavior with a slight optimization.
-			// We aren't receiving traffic but we are sending it, punch on all known
-			// ips in case we need to re-prime NAT state
-			cm.sendPunch(hostinfo)
-		}
+		// We aren't receiving traffic but we are sending it. The outbound
+		// traffic itself refreshes the primary remote's NAT state; this
+		// fans out to non-primary remotes, but only if target_all_remotes
+		// is configured.
+		cm.punchy.SendPunchToAll(hostinfo)

 		if cm.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
 			hostinfo.logger(cm.l).Debug("Tunnel status",
@@ -512,31 +507,6 @@ func (cm *connectionManager) isInvalidCertificate(now time.Time, hostinfo *HostI
 	}
 }

-func (cm *connectionManager) sendPunch(hostinfo *HostInfo) {
-	if !cm.punchy.GetPunch() {
-		// Punching is disabled
-		return
-	}
-
-	if cm.intf.lightHouse.IsAnyLighthouseAddr(hostinfo.vpnAddrs) {
-		// Do not punch to lighthouses, we assume our lighthouse update interval is good enough.
-		// In the event the update interval is not sufficient to maintain NAT state then a publicly available lighthouse
-		// would lose the ability to notify us and punchy.respond would become unreliable.
-		return
-	}
-
-	if cm.punchy.GetTargetEverything() {
-		hostinfo.remotes.ForEach(cm.hostMap.GetPreferredRanges(), func(addr netip.AddrPort, preferred bool) {
-			cm.metricsTxPunchy.Inc(1)
-			cm.intf.outside.WriteTo([]byte{1}, addr)
-		})
-
-	} else if hostinfo.remote.IsValid() {
-		cm.metricsTxPunchy.Inc(1)
-		cm.intf.outside.WriteTo([]byte{1}, hostinfo.remote)
-	}
-}
-
 func (cm *connectionManager) tryRehandshake(hostinfo *HostInfo) {
 	cs := cm.intf.pki.getCertState()
 	curCrt := hostinfo.ConnectionState.myCert
--- a/connection_manager_test.go
+++ b/connection_manager_test.go
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ func Test_NewConnectionManagerTest(t *testing.T) {

 	// Create manager
 	conf := config.NewC(test.NewLogger())
-	punchy := NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), conf)
+	punchy := NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), conf, nil)
 	nc := newConnectionManagerFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), conf, hostMap, punchy)
 	nc.intf = ifce
 	p := []byte("")
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ func Test_NewConnectionManagerTest2(t *testing.T) {

 	// Create manager
 	conf := config.NewC(test.NewLogger())
-	punchy := NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), conf)
+	punchy := NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), conf, nil)
 	nc := newConnectionManagerFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), conf, hostMap, punchy)
 	nc.intf = ifce
 	p := []byte("")
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ func Test_NewConnectionManager_DisconnectInactive(t *testing.T) {
 	conf.Settings["tunnels"] = map[string]any{
 		"drop_inactive": true,
 	}
-	punchy := NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), conf)
+	punchy := NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), conf, nil)
 	nc := newConnectionManagerFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), conf, hostMap, punchy)
 	assert.True(t, nc.dropInactive.Load())
 	nc.intf = ifce
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ func Test_NewConnectionManagerTest_DisconnectInvalid(t *testing.T) {

 	// Create manager
 	conf := config.NewC(test.NewLogger())
-	punchy := NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), conf)
+	punchy := NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), conf, nil)
 	nc := newConnectionManagerFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), conf, hostMap, punchy)
 	nc.intf = ifce
 	ifce.connectionManager = nc
--- a/e2e/leak_test.go
+++ b/e2e/leak_test.go
@@ -18,14 +18,10 @@ import (
 // retry mechanism gives the wg.Wait()-driven goroutines a moment to drain
 // before failing the assertion.
 //
-// IgnoreCurrent is necessary in the parallelized suite: other tests can
-// leave goroutines mid-shutdown when this one runs (Stop is async, the
-// wg.Wait() drain is not blocking on test return). We're checking that
-// *this* test's setup tears down cleanly, not that the whole suite is
-// idle at this moment. Intentionally NOT t.Parallel()'d for the same
-// reason — concurrent test goroutines would always show up.
+// Intentionally NOT t.Parallel()'d: concurrent tests would have their own
+// goroutines running and trip the assertion.
 func TestNoGoroutineLeaks(t *testing.T) {
-	defer goleak.VerifyNone(t, goleak.IgnoreCurrent())
+	defer goleak.VerifyNone(t)

 	ca, _, caKey, _ := cert_test.NewTestCaCert(cert.Version1, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, time.Now(), time.Now().Add(10*time.Minute), nil, nil, []string{})
 	myControl, myVpnIpNet, myUdpAddr, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version1, ca, caKey, "me", "10.128.0.1/24", nil)
--- a/examples/config.yml
+++ b/examples/config.yml
@@ -163,17 +163,21 @@ listen:

 punchy:
  # Continues to punch inbound/outbound at a regular interval to avoid expiration of firewall nat mappings
+  # This setting is reloadable.
  punch: true

  # respond means that a node you are trying to reach will connect back out to you if your hole punching fails
  # this is extremely useful if one node is behind a difficult nat, such as a symmetric NAT
  # Default is false
+  # This setting is reloadable.
  #respond: true

  # delays a punch response for misbehaving NATs, default is 1 second.
+  # This setting is reloadable.
  #delay: 1s

  # set the delay before attempting punchy.respond. Default is 5 seconds. respond must be true to take effect.
+  # This setting is reloadable.
  #respond_delay: 5s

 # Cipher allows you to choose between the available ciphers for your network. Options are chachapoly or aes
--- a/lighthouse.go
+++ b/lighthouse.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import (
 	"time"

 	"github.com/gaissmai/bart"
-	"github.com/rcrowley/go-metrics"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/header"
@@ -35,7 +34,6 @@ type LightHouse struct {

 	myVpnNetworks      []netip.Prefix
 	myVpnNetworksTable *bart.Lite
-	punchConn          udp.Conn
 	punchy             *Punchy

 	// Local cache of answers from light houses
@@ -75,9 +73,8 @@ type LightHouse struct {

 	calculatedRemotes atomic.Pointer[bart.Table[[]*calculatedRemote]] // Maps VpnAddr to []*calculatedRemote

-	metrics           *MessageMetrics
-	metricHolepunchTx metrics.Counter
-	l                 *slog.Logger
+	metrics *MessageMetrics
+	l       *slog.Logger
 }

 // NewLightHouseFromConfig will build a Lighthouse struct from the values provided in the config object
@@ -105,7 +102,6 @@ func NewLightHouseFromConfig(ctx context.Context, l *slog.Logger, c *config.C, c
 		myVpnNetworksTable: cs.myVpnNetworksTable,
 		addrMap:            make(map[netip.Addr]*RemoteList),
 		nebulaPort:         nebulaPort,
-		punchConn:          pc,
 		punchy:             p,
 		updateTrigger:      make(chan struct{}, 1),
 		queryChan:          make(chan netip.Addr, c.GetUint32("handshakes.query_buffer", 64)),
@@ -118,9 +114,6 @@ func NewLightHouseFromConfig(ctx context.Context, l *slog.Logger, c *config.C, c

 	if c.GetBool("stats.lighthouse_metrics", false) {
 		h.metrics = newLighthouseMetrics()
-		h.metricHolepunchTx = metrics.GetOrRegisterCounter("messages.tx.holepunch", nil)
-	} else {
-		h.metricHolepunchTx = metrics.NilCounter{}
 	}

 	err := h.reload(c, true)
@@ -1406,58 +1399,25 @@ func (lhh *LightHouseHandler) handleHostPunchNotification(n *NebulaMeta, fromVpn
 		return
 	}

-	empty := []byte{0}
-	punch := func(vpnPeer netip.AddrPort, logVpnAddr netip.Addr) {
-		if !vpnPeer.IsValid() {
-			return
-		}
-
-		go func() {
-			time.Sleep(lhh.lh.punchy.GetDelay())
-			lhh.lh.metricHolepunchTx.Inc(1)
-			lhh.lh.punchConn.WriteTo(empty, vpnPeer)
-		}()
-
-		if lhh.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
-			lhh.l.Debug("Punching",
-				"vpnPeer", vpnPeer,
-				"logVpnAddr", logVpnAddr,
-			)
-		}
-	}
-
 	remoteAllowList := lhh.lh.GetRemoteAllowList()
 	for _, a := range n.Details.V4AddrPorts {
 		b := protoV4AddrPortToNetAddrPort(a)
 		if remoteAllowList.Allow(detailsVpnAddr, b.Addr()) {
-			punch(b, detailsVpnAddr)
+			lhh.lh.punchy.Schedule(b, detailsVpnAddr)
 		}
 	}

 	for _, a := range n.Details.V6AddrPorts {
 		b := protoV6AddrPortToNetAddrPort(a)
 		if remoteAllowList.Allow(detailsVpnAddr, b.Addr()) {
-			punch(b, detailsVpnAddr)
+			lhh.lh.punchy.Schedule(b, detailsVpnAddr)
 		}
 	}

 	// This sends a nebula test packet to the host trying to contact us. In the case
 	// of a double nat or other difficult scenario, this may help establish
-	// a tunnel.
-	if lhh.lh.punchy.GetRespond() {
-		go func() {
-			time.Sleep(lhh.lh.punchy.GetRespondDelay())
-			if lhh.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
-				lhh.l.Debug("Sending a nebula test packet",
-					"vpnAddr", detailsVpnAddr,
-				)
-			}
-			//NOTE: we have to allocate a new output buffer here since we are spawning a new goroutine
-			// for each punchBack packet. We should move this into a timerwheel or a single goroutine
-			// managed by a channel.
-			w.SendMessageToVpnAddr(header.Test, header.TestRequest, detailsVpnAddr, []byte(""), make([]byte, 12, 12), make([]byte, mtu))
-		}()
-	}
+	// a tunnel. ScheduleRespond is a no-op when punchy.respond is disabled.
+	lhh.lh.punchy.ScheduleRespond(detailsVpnAddr)
 }

 func protoAddrToNetAddr(addr *Addr) netip.Addr {
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func Main(c *config.C, configTest bool, buildVersion string, l *slog.Logger, dev
 	}
 	l.Info("Firewall started", "firewallHashes", fw.GetRuleHashes())

-	ssh, err := sshd.NewSSHServer(l.With("subsystem", "sshd"))
+	ssh, err := sshd.NewSSHServer(ctx, l.With("subsystem", "sshd"))
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, util.ContextualizeIfNeeded("Error while creating SSH server", err)
 	}
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ func Main(c *config.C, configTest bool, buildVersion string, l *slog.Logger, dev
 	}

 	hostMap := NewHostMapFromConfig(l, c)
-	punchy := NewPunchyFromConfig(l, c)
+	punchy := NewPunchyFromConfig(l, c, udpConns[0])
 	connManager := newConnectionManagerFromConfig(l, c, hostMap, punchy)
 	lightHouse, err := NewLightHouseFromConfig(ctx, l, c, pki.getCertState(), udpConns[0], punchy)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -240,6 +240,8 @@ func Main(c *config.C, configTest bool, buildVersion string, l *slog.Logger, dev

 		handshakeManager.f = ifce
 		go handshakeManager.Run(ctx)
+
+		punchy.Start(ctx, ifce, hostMap, lightHouse)
 	}

 	stats, err := newStatsServerFromConfig(ctx, l, c, buildVersion, configTest)
--- a/punchy.go
+++ b/punchy.go
@@ -1,24 +1,70 @@
 package nebula

 import (
+	"context"
 	"log/slog"
+	"net/netip"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"

+	"github.com/rcrowley/go-metrics"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/header"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/udp"
 )

+// holepunchQueueSize buffers the channel that pending holepunchJobs land on after their delay timer fires.
+const holepunchQueueSize = 64
+
+// holepunchJob is one scheduled item delivered to the worker goroutine.
+//   - target valid -> send a UDP punch to target. vpnAddr, if set, is the peer's vpn addr carried for log context.
+//   - target invalid, vpnAddr valid -> send an encrypted test packet to vpnAddr (a "punchback").
+type holepunchJob struct {
+	target  netip.AddrPort
+	vpnAddr netip.Addr
+}
+
+// lighthouseChecker is the slice of LightHouse that Punchy actually needs.
+// Defined here so Punchy doesn't take a *LightHouse dependency (LightHouse
+// already holds a *Punchy, and the bidirectional pointer reference is awkward
+// even within the same package). Tests can also substitute a fake.
+type lighthouseChecker interface {
+	IsAnyLighthouseAddr(vpnAddrs []netip.Addr) bool
+}
+
 type Punchy struct {
 	punch           atomic.Bool
 	respond         atomic.Bool
 	delay           atomic.Int64
 	respondDelay    atomic.Int64
 	punchEverything atomic.Bool
-	l               *slog.Logger
+
+	sched             *Scheduler[holepunchJob]
+	punchConn         udp.Conn
+	metricHolepunchTx metrics.Counter
+	metricPunchyTx    metrics.Counter
+
+	ctx  context.Context
+	ifce EncWriter
+	hm   *HostMap
+	lh   lighthouseChecker
+
+	l *slog.Logger
 }

-func NewPunchyFromConfig(l *slog.Logger, c *config.C) *Punchy {
-	p := &Punchy{l: l}
+func NewPunchyFromConfig(l *slog.Logger, c *config.C, punchConn udp.Conn) *Punchy {
+	p := &Punchy{
+		l:              l,
+		punchConn:      punchConn,
+		sched:          NewScheduler[holepunchJob](holepunchQueueSize),
+		metricPunchyTx: metrics.GetOrRegisterCounter("messages.tx.punchy", nil),
+	}
+
+	if c.GetBool("stats.lighthouse_metrics", false) {
+		p.metricHolepunchTx = metrics.GetOrRegisterCounter("messages.tx.holepunch", nil)
+	} else {
+		p.metricHolepunchTx = metrics.NilCounter{}
+	}

 	p.reload(c, true)
 	c.RegisterReloadCallback(func(c *config.C) {
@@ -29,7 +75,7 @@ func NewPunchyFromConfig(l *slog.Logger, c *config.C) *Punchy {
 }

 func (p *Punchy) reload(c *config.C, initial bool) {
-	if initial {
+	if initial || c.HasChanged("punchy.punch") || c.HasChanged("punchy") {
 		var yes bool
 		if c.IsSet("punchy.punch") {
 			yes = c.GetBool("punchy.punch", false)
@@ -38,16 +84,15 @@ func (p *Punchy) reload(c *config.C, initial bool) {
 			yes = c.GetBool("punchy", false)
 		}

-		p.punch.Store(yes)
-		if yes {
+		old := p.punch.Swap(yes)
+		switch {
+		case initial && yes:
 			p.l.Info("punchy enabled")
-		} else {
+		case initial:
 			p.l.Info("punchy disabled")
+		case old != yes:
+			p.l.Info("punchy.punch changed", "punch", yes)
 		}
-
-	} else if c.HasChanged("punchy.punch") || c.HasChanged("punchy") {
-		//TODO: it should be relatively easy to support this, just need to be able to cancel the goroutine and boot it up from here
-		p.l.Warn("Changing punchy.punch with reload is not supported, ignoring.")
 	}

 	if initial || c.HasChanged("punchy.respond") || c.HasChanged("punch_back") {
@@ -59,52 +104,132 @@ func (p *Punchy) reload(c *config.C, initial bool) {
 			yes = c.GetBool("punch_back", false)
 		}

-		p.respond.Store(yes)
-
-		if !initial {
-			p.l.Info("punchy.respond changed", "respond", p.GetRespond())
+		old := p.respond.Swap(yes)
+		if !initial && old != yes {
+			p.l.Info("punchy.respond changed", "respond", yes)
 		}
 	}

 	//NOTE: this will not apply to any in progress operations, only the next one
 	if initial || c.HasChanged("punchy.delay") {
-		p.delay.Store((int64)(c.GetDuration("punchy.delay", time.Second)))
-		if !initial {
-			p.l.Info("punchy.delay changed", "delay", p.GetDelay())
+		newDelay := int64(c.GetDuration("punchy.delay", time.Second))
+		old := p.delay.Swap(newDelay)
+		if !initial && old != newDelay {
+			p.l.Info("punchy.delay changed", "delay", time.Duration(newDelay))
 		}
 	}

 	if initial || c.HasChanged("punchy.target_all_remotes") {
-		p.punchEverything.Store(c.GetBool("punchy.target_all_remotes", false))
-		if !initial {
-			p.l.Info("punchy.target_all_remotes changed", "target_all_remotes", p.GetTargetEverything())
+		yes := c.GetBool("punchy.target_all_remotes", false)
+		old := p.punchEverything.Swap(yes)
+		if !initial && old != yes {
+			p.l.Info("punchy.target_all_remotes changed", "target_all_remotes", yes)
 		}
 	}

 	if initial || c.HasChanged("punchy.respond_delay") {
-		p.respondDelay.Store((int64)(c.GetDuration("punchy.respond_delay", 5*time.Second)))
-		if !initial {
-			p.l.Info("punchy.respond_delay changed", "respond_delay", p.GetRespondDelay())
+		newDelay := int64(c.GetDuration("punchy.respond_delay", 5*time.Second))
+		old := p.respondDelay.Swap(newDelay)
+		if !initial && old != newDelay {
+			p.l.Info("punchy.respond_delay changed", "respond_delay", time.Duration(newDelay))
 		}
 	}
 }

-func (p *Punchy) GetPunch() bool {
-	return p.punch.Load()
+// Schedule queues a punch packet to target, to be sent after the configured delay.
+// vpnAddr is the peer's vpn addr, used for log context when the packet actually fires.
+// No-op if target is not a valid AddrPort or if Start has not yet been called. Safe to call from any goroutine.
+func (p *Punchy) Schedule(target netip.AddrPort, vpnAddr netip.Addr) {
+	if !target.IsValid() || p.ctx == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	p.scheduleJob(holepunchJob{target: target, vpnAddr: vpnAddr}, time.Duration(p.delay.Load()))
 }

-func (p *Punchy) GetRespond() bool {
-	return p.respond.Load()
+// ScheduleRespond queues a punchback test packet to vpnAddr after the configured respond delay,
+// gated on punchy.respond. No-op when respond is disabled or before Start has been called.
+func (p *Punchy) ScheduleRespond(vpnAddr netip.Addr) {
+	if !p.respond.Load() || p.ctx == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	p.scheduleJob(holepunchJob{vpnAddr: vpnAddr}, time.Duration(p.respondDelay.Load()))
 }

-func (p *Punchy) GetDelay() time.Duration {
-	return (time.Duration)(p.delay.Load())
+// scheduleJob delegates to the pooled Scheduler.
+// The callback observes p.ctx so a job that becomes due after Stop is dropped instead of queued.
+func (p *Punchy) scheduleJob(job holepunchJob, delay time.Duration) {
+	p.sched.Schedule(p.ctx, job, delay)
 }

-func (p *Punchy) GetRespondDelay() time.Duration {
-	return (time.Duration)(p.respondDelay.Load())
+// SendPunch sends an immediate keepalive punch for an idle hostinfo.
+// The configured punchy.target_all_remotes mode picks the targets. Gated on punchy.punch and the lighthouse-skip rule
+// (lighthouses don't get keepalive punches because the regular update interval keeps their NAT state warm).
+func (p *Punchy) SendPunch(hostinfo *HostInfo) {
+	if !p.punch.Load() {
+		return
+	}
+	if p.lh.IsAnyLighthouseAddr(hostinfo.vpnAddrs) {
+		return
+	}
+
+	if p.punchEverything.Load() {
+		p.sendPunchToAllRemotes(hostinfo)
+	} else if hostinfo.remote.IsValid() {
+		p.metricPunchyTx.Inc(1)
+		p.punchConn.WriteTo([]byte{1}, hostinfo.remote)
+	}
 }

-func (p *Punchy) GetTargetEverything() bool {
-	return p.punchEverything.Load()
+// SendPunchToAll punches every known remote for hostinfo, but only when punchy.target_all_remotes is enabled.
+// The connection manager calls this during outbound-only traffic: the outbound traffic itself keeps the primary's
+// NAT state warm, but non-primary remotes need separate refresh, so we fan out to all of them (the redundant
+// primary punch is harmless). Gated on punchy.punch and the lighthouse-skip rule.
+func (p *Punchy) SendPunchToAll(hostinfo *HostInfo) {
+	if !p.punchEverything.Load() {
+		return
+	}
+	if !p.punch.Load() {
+		return
+	}
+	if p.lh.IsAnyLighthouseAddr(hostinfo.vpnAddrs) {
+		return
+	}
+	p.sendPunchToAllRemotes(hostinfo)
+}
+
+func (p *Punchy) sendPunchToAllRemotes(hostinfo *HostInfo) {
+	hostinfo.remotes.ForEach(p.hm.GetPreferredRanges(), func(addr netip.AddrPort, preferred bool) {
+		p.metricPunchyTx.Inc(1)
+		p.punchConn.WriteTo([]byte{1}, addr)
+	})
+}
+
+// Start wires the runtime dependencies and spawns the scheduler worker.
+func (p *Punchy) Start(ctx context.Context, ifce EncWriter, hm *HostMap, lh lighthouseChecker) {
+	p.ctx = ctx
+	p.ifce = ifce
+	p.hm = hm
+	p.lh = lh
+
+	nb := make([]byte, 12, 12)
+	out := make([]byte, mtu)
+	empty := []byte{0}
+
+	go p.sched.Run(ctx, func(job holepunchJob) {
+		switch {
+		case job.target.IsValid():
+			if p.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
+				p.l.Debug("Punching", "target", job.target, "vpnAddr", job.vpnAddr)
+			}
+			p.metricHolepunchTx.Inc(1)
+			p.punchConn.WriteTo(empty, job.target)
+		case job.vpnAddr.IsValid():
+			// A nebula test packet to the host trying to contact us.
+			// In the case of a double nat or other difficult scenario, this may help establish a tunnel.
+			if p.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
+				p.l.Debug("Sending a nebula test packet", "vpnAddr", job.vpnAddr)
+			}
+			p.ifce.SendMessageToVpnAddr(header.Test, header.TestRequest, job.vpnAddr, []byte(""), nb, out)
+		}
+	})
 }
--- a/punchy_test.go
+++ b/punchy_test.go
@@ -17,42 +17,42 @@ func TestNewPunchyFromConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	c := config.NewC(l)

 	// Test defaults
-	p := NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), c)
-	assert.False(t, p.GetPunch())
-	assert.False(t, p.GetRespond())
-	assert.Equal(t, time.Second, p.GetDelay())
-	assert.Equal(t, 5*time.Second, p.GetRespondDelay())
+	p := NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), c, nil)
+	assert.False(t, p.punch.Load())
+	assert.False(t, p.respond.Load())
+	assert.Equal(t, time.Second, time.Duration(p.delay.Load()))
+	assert.Equal(t, 5*time.Second, time.Duration(p.respondDelay.Load()))

 	// punchy deprecation
 	c.Settings["punchy"] = true
-	p = NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), c)
-	assert.True(t, p.GetPunch())
+	p = NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), c, nil)
+	assert.True(t, p.punch.Load())

 	// punchy.punch
 	c.Settings["punchy"] = map[string]any{"punch": true}
-	p = NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), c)
-	assert.True(t, p.GetPunch())
+	p = NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), c, nil)
+	assert.True(t, p.punch.Load())

 	// punch_back deprecation
 	c.Settings["punch_back"] = true
-	p = NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), c)
-	assert.True(t, p.GetRespond())
+	p = NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), c, nil)
+	assert.True(t, p.respond.Load())

 	// punchy.respond
 	c.Settings["punchy"] = map[string]any{"respond": true}
 	c.Settings["punch_back"] = false
-	p = NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), c)
-	assert.True(t, p.GetRespond())
+	p = NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), c, nil)
+	assert.True(t, p.respond.Load())

 	// punchy.delay
 	c.Settings["punchy"] = map[string]any{"delay": "1m"}
-	p = NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), c)
-	assert.Equal(t, time.Minute, p.GetDelay())
+	p = NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), c, nil)
+	assert.Equal(t, time.Minute, time.Duration(p.delay.Load()))

 	// punchy.respond_delay
 	c.Settings["punchy"] = map[string]any{"respond_delay": "1m"}
-	p = NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), c)
-	assert.Equal(t, time.Minute, p.GetRespondDelay())
+	p = NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), c, nil)
+	assert.Equal(t, time.Minute, time.Duration(p.respondDelay.Load()))
 }

 func TestPunchy_reload(t *testing.T) {
@@ -61,35 +61,34 @@ func TestPunchy_reload(t *testing.T) {
 	delay, _ := time.ParseDuration("1m")
 	require.NoError(t, c.LoadString(`
 punchy:
+  punch: false
  delay: 1m
  respond: false
 `))
-	p := NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), c)
-	assert.Equal(t, delay, p.GetDelay())
-	assert.False(t, p.GetRespond())
+	p := NewPunchyFromConfig(test.NewLogger(), c, nil)
+	assert.False(t, p.punch.Load())
+	assert.Equal(t, delay, time.Duration(p.delay.Load()))
+	assert.False(t, p.respond.Load())

 	newDelay, _ := time.ParseDuration("10m")
 	require.NoError(t, c.ReloadConfigString(`
 punchy:
+  punch: true
  delay: 10m
  respond: true
 `))
 	p.reload(c, false)
-	assert.Equal(t, newDelay, p.GetDelay())
-	assert.True(t, p.GetRespond())
+	assert.True(t, p.punch.Load())
+	assert.Equal(t, newDelay, time.Duration(p.delay.Load()))
+	assert.True(t, p.respond.Load())
 }

 // The tests below pin the shape of each log line Punchy produces so changes
 // cannot silently break whatever operators are grepping for. The assertions
 // are on the structured message + attrs (e.g. "punchy.respond changed" with
-// a respond=true field) rather than a formatted string.
-//
-// Punchy.reload also emits a spurious "Changing punchy.punch with reload is
-// not supported" warning whenever any key under punchy changes, because of
-// the c.HasChanged("punchy") fallback kept for the deprecated top-level
-// punchy form. The tests filter by message rather than asserting total
-// entry counts so that warning is tolerated without being locked into
-// the format.
+// a respond=true field) rather than a formatted string. Tests filter by
+// message rather than asserting total entry counts so unrelated info lines
+// are tolerated without being locked into the format.

 type capturedEntry struct {
 	Level slog.Level
@@ -145,7 +144,7 @@ func TestPunchy_LogFormat_InitialEnabled(t *testing.T) {
 	c := config.NewC(test.NewLogger())
 	require.NoError(t, c.LoadString(`punchy: {punch: true}`))

-	NewPunchyFromConfig(l, c)
+	NewPunchyFromConfig(l, c, nil)

 	entry := findEntry(t, hook.entries, "punchy enabled")
 	assert.Equal(t, slog.LevelInfo, entry.Level)
@@ -157,32 +156,32 @@ func TestPunchy_LogFormat_InitialDisabled(t *testing.T) {
 	c := config.NewC(test.NewLogger())
 	require.NoError(t, c.LoadString(`punchy: {punch: false}`))

-	NewPunchyFromConfig(l, c)
+	NewPunchyFromConfig(l, c, nil)

 	entry := findEntry(t, hook.entries, "punchy disabled")
 	assert.Equal(t, slog.LevelInfo, entry.Level)
 	assert.Empty(t, entry.Attrs)
 }

-func TestPunchy_LogFormat_ReloadPunchUnsupported(t *testing.T) {
+func TestPunchy_LogFormat_ReloadPunch(t *testing.T) {
 	l, hook := newCapturingPunchyLogger(t)
 	c := config.NewC(test.NewLogger())
 	require.NoError(t, c.LoadString(`punchy: {punch: false}`))
-	NewPunchyFromConfig(l, c)
+	NewPunchyFromConfig(l, c, nil)
 	hook.entries = nil

 	require.NoError(t, c.ReloadConfigString(`punchy: {punch: true}`))

-	entry := findEntry(t, hook.entries, "Changing punchy.punch with reload is not supported, ignoring.")
-	assert.Equal(t, slog.LevelWarn, entry.Level)
-	assert.Empty(t, entry.Attrs)
+	entry := findEntry(t, hook.entries, "punchy.punch changed")
+	assert.Equal(t, slog.LevelInfo, entry.Level)
+	assert.Equal(t, map[string]any{"punch": true}, entry.Attrs)
 }

 func TestPunchy_LogFormat_ReloadRespond(t *testing.T) {
 	l, hook := newCapturingPunchyLogger(t)
 	c := config.NewC(test.NewLogger())
 	require.NoError(t, c.LoadString(`punchy: {respond: false}`))
-	NewPunchyFromConfig(l, c)
+	NewPunchyFromConfig(l, c, nil)
 	hook.entries = nil

 	require.NoError(t, c.ReloadConfigString(`punchy: {respond: true}`))
@@ -196,7 +195,7 @@ func TestPunchy_LogFormat_ReloadDelay(t *testing.T) {
 	l, hook := newCapturingPunchyLogger(t)
 	c := config.NewC(test.NewLogger())
 	require.NoError(t, c.LoadString(`punchy: {delay: 1s}`))
-	NewPunchyFromConfig(l, c)
+	NewPunchyFromConfig(l, c, nil)
 	hook.entries = nil

 	require.NoError(t, c.ReloadConfigString(`punchy: {delay: 10s}`))
@@ -210,7 +209,7 @@ func TestPunchy_LogFormat_ReloadTargetAllRemotes(t *testing.T) {
 	l, hook := newCapturingPunchyLogger(t)
 	c := config.NewC(test.NewLogger())
 	require.NoError(t, c.LoadString(`punchy: {target_all_remotes: false}`))
-	NewPunchyFromConfig(l, c)
+	NewPunchyFromConfig(l, c, nil)
 	hook.entries = nil

 	require.NoError(t, c.ReloadConfigString(`punchy: {target_all_remotes: true}`))
@@ -224,7 +223,7 @@ func TestPunchy_LogFormat_ReloadRespondDelay(t *testing.T) {
 	l, hook := newCapturingPunchyLogger(t)
 	c := config.NewC(test.NewLogger())
 	require.NoError(t, c.LoadString(`punchy: {respond_delay: 5s}`))
-	NewPunchyFromConfig(l, c)
+	NewPunchyFromConfig(l, c, nil)
 	hook.entries = nil

 	require.NoError(t, c.ReloadConfigString(`punchy: {respond_delay: 15s}`))
--- a/scheduler.go
+++ b/scheduler.go
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+package nebula
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// Scheduler is an allocation-conscious dispatch primitive for delayed work.
+// Pending items are handed to time.AfterFunc, and ready items land on a worker
+// channel for centralized dispatch in fire-time order.
+//
+// Pick a Scheduler when fire timing matters (exact deadlines, no bucketing) or when the scheduling
+// rate is uneven enough that idle CPU matters. Each fire is a runtime-spawned goroutine running the callback before
+// delivering to the worker, which is fine at sparse rates but adds up at line rate.
+//
+// Pick a TimerWheel when scheduling is high-rate and uniform: its O(1) insert, internal item cache,
+// and bucket-batched dispatch are cheaper at scale.
+// The caller drives the tick loop (Advance/Purge) and pays for fires at bucket boundaries rather than exact deadlines.
+type Scheduler[T any] struct {
+	queue chan T
+	pool  sync.Pool
+}
+
+type schedItem[T any] struct {
+	val   T
+	ctx   context.Context
+	s     *Scheduler[T]
+	timer *time.Timer
+	fire  func()
+}
+
+// NewScheduler builds a Scheduler whose worker channel is sized to queueSize.
+// The buffer absorbs bursts of timers firing close together without
+// blocking the runtime's callback goroutines on the worker.
+func NewScheduler[T any](queueSize int) *Scheduler[T] {
+	s := &Scheduler[T]{
+		queue: make(chan T, queueSize),
+	}
+	s.pool.New = func() any {
+		si := &schedItem[T]{s: s}
+		// fire is allocated exactly once per pool-resident item.
+		// The closure captures only `si`, which stays stable for the item's lifetime.
+		si.fire = func() {
+			select {
+			case si.s.queue <- si.val:
+			case <-si.ctx.Done():
+			}
+			var zero T
+			si.val = zero
+			si.ctx = nil
+			si.s.pool.Put(si)
+		}
+		return si
+	}
+	return s
+}
+
+// Schedule arranges item to be delivered to the worker after delay.
+// The runtime's timer heap handles the wait, so the scheduler itself burns no CPU while idle.
+// The callback observes ctx: if ctx is cancelled before the timer fires, the item is dropped instead of queued.
+func (s *Scheduler[T]) Schedule(ctx context.Context, item T, delay time.Duration) {
+	si := s.pool.Get().(*schedItem[T])
+	si.val = item
+	si.ctx = ctx
+	if si.timer == nil {
+		si.timer = time.AfterFunc(delay, si.fire)
+	} else {
+		si.timer.Reset(delay)
+	}
+}
+
+// Run drains the worker queue, calling fn for each item. Returns when ctx is cancelled.
+// Tests that want deterministic timing should drive the queue directly rather than going through Schedule + Run.
+func (s *Scheduler[T]) Run(ctx context.Context, fn func(T)) {
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return
+		case item := <-s.queue:
+			fn(item)
+		}
+	}
+}
--- a/scheduler_test.go
+++ b/scheduler_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+package nebula
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestScheduler_PooledReuse(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+
+	s := NewScheduler[int](16)
+	delivered := make(chan int, 256)
+	go s.Run(ctx, func(item int) { delivered <- item })
+
+	const N = 100
+	for i := 0; i < N; i++ {
+		s.Schedule(ctx, i, time.Millisecond)
+	}
+
+	deadline := time.After(2 * time.Second)
+	got := 0
+	for got < N {
+		select {
+		case <-delivered:
+			got++
+		case <-deadline:
+			t.Fatalf("only %d/%d items delivered", got, N)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// BenchmarkScheduler_Schedule reports allocations per Schedule call.
+// In steady state the Scheduler's sync.Pool means we should see zero allocs per op once the pool warms up.
+func BenchmarkScheduler_Schedule(b *testing.B) {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+
+	s := NewScheduler[int](b.N)
+	go s.Run(ctx, func(int) {})
+
+	b.ReportAllocs()
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		s.Schedule(ctx, i, time.Microsecond)
+	}
+}
+
+// BenchmarkBareAfterFunc is the comparison baseline.
+// What we'd pay per Schedule if Punchy called time.AfterFunc directly without the pooled Scheduler.
+// Allocates a *time.Timer plus a closure each call.
+func BenchmarkBareAfterFunc(b *testing.B) {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+
+	queue := make(chan int, b.N)
+	go func() {
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-ctx.Done():
+				return
+			case <-queue:
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+
+	b.ReportAllocs()
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		i := i
+		time.AfterFunc(time.Microsecond, func() {
+			select {
+			case queue <- i:
+			case <-ctx.Done():
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
--- a/sshd/server.go
+++ b/sshd/server.go
@@ -32,10 +32,12 @@ type SSHServer struct {
 	cancel func()
 }

-// NewSSHServer creates a new ssh server rigged with default commands and prepares to listen
-func NewSSHServer(l *slog.Logger) (*SSHServer, error) {
+// NewSSHServer creates a new ssh server rigged with default commands and prepares to listen.
+// The ssh server's context is parented off the supplied ctx so cancelling it
+// (e.g. on Control.Stop) tears down active sessions and closes the listener.
+func NewSSHServer(ctx context.Context, l *slog.Logger) (*SSHServer, error) {

-	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
 	s := &SSHServer{
 		trustedKeys: make(map[string]map[string]bool),
 		l:           l,
@@ -153,6 +155,10 @@ func (s *SSHServer) RegisterCommand(c *Command) {

 // Run begins listening and accepting connections
 func (s *SSHServer) Run(addr string) error {
+	if s.ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return s.ctx.Err()
+	}
+
 	var err error
 	s.listener, err = net.Listen("tcp", addr)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -161,8 +167,21 @@ func (s *SSHServer) Run(addr string) error {

 	s.l.Info("SSH server is listening", "sshListener", addr)

+	// Per-invocation watcher: cancellation of the parent context (e.g.
+	// Control.Stop) closes the listener so Accept unblocks and run returns.
+	// Closing `done` on exit keeps the watcher from outliving this Run call.
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		select {
+		case <-s.ctx.Done():
+			s.Stop()
+		case <-done:
+		}
+	}()
+
 	// Run loops until there is an error
 	s.run()
+	close(done)
 	s.closeSessions()

 	s.l.Info("SSH server stopped listening")
--- a/timeout.go
+++ b/timeout.go
@@ -8,6 +8,23 @@ import (
 // How many timer objects should be cached
 const timerCacheMax = 50000

+// TimerWheel is a hashed timing wheel: a fixed slot array indexed by (now + delay) % wheelLen,
+// with each slot a singly linked list of items due in that bucket.
+// Adds are O(1), Purges return items in arrival-within-slot order, and an internal cache of TimeoutItems
+// keeps steady-state inserts allocation-free.
+//
+// The TimerWheel does not handle concurrency or lifecycle on its own.
+// Callers drive Advance/Purge from their own ticker loop, take their own locks (or use LockingTimerWheel),
+// and decide whether to keep ticking when the wheel is empty.
+//
+// Pick a TimerWheel when scheduling is high-rate and uniform: line-rate conntrack inserts,
+// per-tunnel traffic checks at fixed intervals. O(1) insert plus the item cache means the hot path doesn't allocate.
+// Items added in the same tick are dispatched together when that slot rotates current,
+// which amortizes the cost of waking the worker.
+//
+// Pick a Scheduler when delay precision matters or scheduling is sparse or uneven.
+// The wheel rounds requested timeouts up to its tick resolution and clamps anything beyond its wheel duration;
+// both are silent in this implementation.
 type TimerWheel[T any] struct {
 	// Current tick
 	current int