use wg tun library; batching & locking improvements

* specifically report if nebula start fails because of tun device name

* close all routines when closing the tun

cmd/nebula-cert/test_freebsd.go

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+package main
+
+const NoSuchFileError = "no such file or directory"
+const NoSuchDirError = "no such file or directory"

cmd/nebula-cert/test_openbsd.go

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+package main
+
+const NoSuchFileError = "no such file or directory"
+const NoSuchDirError = "no such file or directory"

connection_manager_test.go

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/test"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/test/device"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/udp"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ func Test_NewConnectionManagerTest(t *testing.T) {
 	lh := newTestLighthouse()
 	ifce := &Interface{
 		hostMap:          hostMap,
-		inside:           &test.NoopTun{},
+		inside:           &device.NoopTun{},
 		outside:          &udp.NoopConn{},
 		firewall:         &Firewall{},
 		lightHouse:       lh,
@@ -135,7 +136,7 @@ func Test_NewConnectionManagerTest2(t *testing.T) {
 	lh := newTestLighthouse()
 	ifce := &Interface{
 		hostMap:          hostMap,
-		inside:           &test.NoopTun{},
+		inside:           &device.NoopTun{},
 		outside:          &udp.NoopConn{},
 		firewall:         &Firewall{},
 		lightHouse:       lh,
@@ -220,7 +221,7 @@ func Test_NewConnectionManager_DisconnectInactive(t *testing.T) {
 	lh := newTestLighthouse()
 	ifce := &Interface{
 		hostMap:          hostMap,
-		inside:           &test.NoopTun{},
+		inside:           &device.NoopTun{},
 		outside:          &udp.NoopConn{},
 		firewall:         &Firewall{},
 		lightHouse:       lh,
@@ -347,7 +348,7 @@ func Test_NewConnectionManagerTest_DisconnectInvalid(t *testing.T) {
 	lh := newTestLighthouse()
 	ifce := &Interface{
 		hostMap:          hostMap,
-		inside:           &test.NoopTun{},
+		inside:           &device.NoopTun{},
 		outside:          &udp.NoopConn{},
 		firewall:         &Firewall{},
 		lightHouse:       lh,

firewall.go

@@ -81,8 +81,14 @@ type FirewallConntrack struct {
 
 	Conns      map[firewall.Packet]*conn
 	TimerWheel *TimerWheel[firewall.Packet]
+
+	// purgeCounter tracks lookups to trigger periodic purge instead of every lookup
+	purgeCounter uint32
 }
 
+// purgeInterval defines how many lookups between purge attempts
+const conntrackPurgeInterval = 1024
+
 // FirewallTable is the entry point for a rule, the evaluation order is:
 // Proto AND port AND (CA SHA or CA name) AND local CIDR AND (group OR groups OR name OR remote CIDR)
 type FirewallTable struct {
@@ -492,14 +498,17 @@ func (f *Firewall) inConns(fp firewall.Packet, h *HostInfo, caPool *cert.CAPool,
 	conntrack := f.Conntrack
 	conntrack.Lock()
 
-	// Purge every time we test
+	// Periodic purge instead of every lookup (major CPU savings)
-	ep, has := conntrack.TimerWheel.Purge()
+	conntrack.purgeCounter++
-	if has {
+	if conntrack.purgeCounter >= conntrackPurgeInterval {
-		f.evict(ep)
+		conntrack.purgeCounter = 0
+		ep, has := conntrack.TimerWheel.Purge()
+		if has {
+			f.evict(ep)
+		}
 	}
 
 	c, ok := conntrack.Conns[fp]
-
 	if !ok {
 		conntrack.Unlock()
 		return false

go.mod

@@ -30,11 +30,11 @@ require (
 	golang.org/x/sys v0.40.0
 	golang.org/x/term v0.39.0
 	golang.zx2c4.com/wintun v0.0.0-20230126152724-0fa3db229ce2
-	golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard v0.0.0-20230325221338-052af4a8072b
+	golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard v0.0.0-20250521234502-f333402bd9cb
 	golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/windows v0.5.3
 	google.golang.org/protobuf v1.36.11
 	gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1
-	gvisor.dev/gvisor v0.0.0-20240423190808-9d7a357edefe
+	gvisor.dev/gvisor v0.0.0-20250503011706-39ed1f5ac29c
 )
 
 require (
@@ -50,6 +50,6 @@ require (
 	github.com/vishvananda/netns v0.0.5 // indirect
 	go.yaml.in/yaml/v2 v2.4.2 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/mod v0.31.0 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/time v0.5.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/time v0.7.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/tools v0.40.0 // indirect
 )

go.sum

@@ -216,8 +216,8 @@ golang.org/x/term v0.39.0/go.mod h1:yxzUCTP/U+FzoxfdKmLaA0RV1WgE0VY7hXBwKtY/4ww=
 golang.org/x/text v0.3.0/go.mod h1:NqM8EUOU14njkJ3fqMW+pc6Ldnwhi/IjpwHt7yyuwOQ=
 golang.org/x/text v0.3.2/go.mod h1:bEr9sfX3Q8Zfm5fL9x+3itogRgK3+ptLWKqgva+5dAk=
 golang.org/x/text v0.3.3/go.mod h1:5Zoc/QRtKVWzQhOtBMvqHzDpF6irO9z98xDceosuGiQ=
-golang.org/x/time v0.5.0 h1:o7cqy6amK/52YcAKIPlM3a+Fpj35zvRj2TP+e1xFSfk=
+golang.org/x/time v0.7.0 h1:ntUhktv3OPE6TgYxXWv9vKvUSJyIFJlyohwbkEwPrKQ=
-golang.org/x/time v0.5.0/go.mod h1:3BpzKBy/shNhVucY/MWOyx10tF3SFh9QdLuxbVysPQM=
+golang.org/x/time v0.7.0/go.mod h1:3BpzKBy/shNhVucY/MWOyx10tF3SFh9QdLuxbVysPQM=
 golang.org/x/tools v0.0.0-20180917221912-90fa682c2a6e/go.mod h1:n7NCudcB/nEzxVGmLbDWY5pfWTLqBcC2KZ6jyYvM4mQ=
 golang.org/x/tools v0.0.0-20191119224855-298f0cb1881e/go.mod h1:b+2E5dAYhXwXZwtnZ6UAqBI28+e2cm9otk0dWdXHAEo=
 golang.org/x/tools v0.0.0-20200130002326-2f3ba24bd6e7/go.mod h1:TB2adYChydJhpapKDTa4BR/hXlZSLoq2Wpct/0txZ28=
@@ -231,8 +231,8 @@ golang.org/x/xerrors v0.0.0-20191204190536-9bdfabe68543/go.mod h1:I/5z698sn9Ka8T
 golang.org/x/xerrors v0.0.0-20200804184101-5ec99f83aff1/go.mod h1:I/5z698sn9Ka8TeJc9MKroUUfqBBauWjQqLJ2OPfmY0=
 golang.zx2c4.com/wintun v0.0.0-20230126152724-0fa3db229ce2 h1:B82qJJgjvYKsXS9jeunTOisW56dUokqW/FOteYJJ/yg=
 golang.zx2c4.com/wintun v0.0.0-20230126152724-0fa3db229ce2/go.mod h1:deeaetjYA+DHMHg+sMSMI58GrEteJUUzzw7en6TJQcI=
-golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard v0.0.0-20230325221338-052af4a8072b h1:J1CaxgLerRR5lgx3wnr6L04cJFbWoceSK9JWBdglINo=
+golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard v0.0.0-20250521234502-f333402bd9cb h1:whnFRlWMcXI9d+ZbWg+4sHnLp52d5yiIPUxMBSt4X9A=
-golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard v0.0.0-20230325221338-052af4a8072b/go.mod h1:tqur9LnfstdR9ep2LaJT4lFUl0EjlHtge+gAjmsHUG4=
+golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard v0.0.0-20250521234502-f333402bd9cb/go.mod h1:rpwXGsirqLqN2L0JDJQlwOboGHmptD5ZD6T2VmcqhTw=
 golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/windows v0.5.3 h1:On6j2Rpn3OEMXqBq00QEDC7bWSZrPIHKIus8eIuExIE=
 golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/windows v0.5.3/go.mod h1:9TEe8TJmtwyQebdFwAkEWOPr3prrtqm+REGFifP60hI=
 google.golang.org/appengine v1.4.0/go.mod h1:xpcJRLb0r/rnEns0DIKYYv+WjYCduHsrkT7/EB5XEv4=
@@ -258,5 +258,5 @@ gopkg.in/yaml.v2 v2.3.0/go.mod h1:hI93XBmqTisBFMUTm0b8Fm+jr3Dg1NNxqwp+5A1VGuI=
 gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.0-20200313102051-9f266ea9e77c/go.mod h1:K4uyk7z7BCEPqu6E+C64Yfv1cQ7kz7rIZviUmN+EgEM=
 gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1 h1:fxVm/GzAzEWqLHuvctI91KS9hhNmmWOoWu0XTYJS7CA=
 gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1/go.mod h1:K4uyk7z7BCEPqu6E+C64Yfv1cQ7kz7rIZviUmN+EgEM=
-gvisor.dev/gvisor v0.0.0-20240423190808-9d7a357edefe h1:fre4i6mv4iBuz5lCMOzHD1rH1ljqHWSICFmZRbbgp3g=
+gvisor.dev/gvisor v0.0.0-20250503011706-39ed1f5ac29c h1:m/r7OM+Y2Ty1sgBQ7Qb27VgIMBW8ZZhT4gLnUyDIhzI=
-gvisor.dev/gvisor v0.0.0-20240423190808-9d7a357edefe/go.mod h1:sxc3Uvk/vHcd3tj7/DHVBoR5wvWT/MmRq2pj7HRJnwU=
+gvisor.dev/gvisor v0.0.0-20250503011706-39ed1f5ac29c/go.mod h1:3r5CMtNQMKIvBlrmM9xWUNamjKBYPOWyXOjmg5Kts3g=

inside.go

@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ package nebula
 
 import (
 	"net/netip"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/firewall"
@@ -11,6 +13,258 @@ import (
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
 )
 
+// preEncryptionPacket holds packet data before batch encryption
+type preEncryptionPacket struct {
+	hostinfo *HostInfo
+	ci       *ConnectionState
+	packet   []byte
+	out      []byte
+}
+
+// Pool for preEncryptionBatch slices to reduce allocations
+var preEncryptionBatchPool = sync.Pool{
+	New: func() any {
+		// Pre-allocate with reasonable capacity
+		batch := make([]preEncryptionPacket, 0, 128)
+		return &batch
+	},
+}
+
+// consumeInsidePackets processes multiple packets in a batch for improved performance
+// packets: slice of packet buffers to process
+// sizes: slice of packet sizes
+// count: number of packets to process
+// outs: slice of output buffers (one per packet) with virtio headroom
+// q: queue index
+// localCache: firewall conntrack cache
+// batchPackets: pre-allocated slice for accumulating encrypted packets
+// batchAddrs: pre-allocated slice for accumulating destination addresses
+func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePackets(packets [][]byte, sizes []int, count int, outs [][]byte, nb []byte, q int, localCache firewall.ConntrackCache, batchPackets *[][]byte, batchAddrs *[]netip.AddrPort) {
+	// Reusable per-packet state
+	fwPacket := &firewall.Packet{}
+
+	// Reset batch accumulation slices (reuse capacity)
+	*batchPackets = (*batchPackets)[:0]
+	*batchAddrs = (*batchAddrs)[:0]
+
+	// Collect packets for batched encryption
+	preEncryptionBatch := make([]preEncryptionPacket, 0, count)
+
+	// Process each packet in the batch
+	for i := 0; i < count; i++ {
+		packet := packets[i][:sizes[i]]
+		out := outs[i]
+
+		// Inline the consumeInsidePacket logic for better performance
+		err := newPacket(packet, false, fwPacket)
+		if err != nil {
+			if f.l.Level >= logrus.DebugLevel {
+				f.l.WithField("packet", packet).Debugf("Error while validating outbound packet: %s", err)
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// Ignore local broadcast packets
+		if f.dropLocalBroadcast {
+			if f.myBroadcastAddrsTable.Contains(fwPacket.RemoteAddr) {
+				continue
+			}
+		}
+
+		if f.myVpnAddrsTable.Contains(fwPacket.RemoteAddr) {
+			// Immediately forward packets from self to self.
+			if immediatelyForwardToSelf {
+				_, err := f.readers[q].Write(packet)
+				if err != nil {
+					f.l.WithError(err).Error("Failed to forward to tun")
+				}
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// Ignore multicast packets
+		if f.dropMulticast && fwPacket.RemoteAddr.IsMulticast() {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		hostinfo, ready := f.getOrHandshakeConsiderRouting(fwPacket, func(hh *HandshakeHostInfo) {
+			hh.cachePacket(f.l, header.Message, 0, packet, f.sendMessageNow, f.cachedPacketMetrics)
+		})
+
+		if hostinfo == nil {
+			f.rejectInside(packet, out, q)
+			if f.l.Level >= logrus.DebugLevel {
+				f.l.WithField("vpnAddr", fwPacket.RemoteAddr).
+					WithField("fwPacket", fwPacket).
+					Debugln("dropping outbound packet, vpnAddr not in our vpn networks or in unsafe networks")
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if !ready {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		dropReason := f.firewall.Drop(*fwPacket, false, hostinfo, f.pki.GetCAPool(), localCache)
+		if dropReason != nil {
+			f.rejectInside(packet, out, q)
+			if f.l.Level >= logrus.DebugLevel {
+				hostinfo.logger(f.l).
+					WithField("fwPacket", fwPacket).
+					WithField("reason", dropReason).
+					Debugln("dropping outbound packet")
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// Prepare packet for batch encryption
+		ci := hostinfo.ConnectionState
+		if ci.eKey == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// Check if this needs relay - if so, send immediately and skip batching
+		useRelay := !hostinfo.remote.IsValid()
+		if useRelay {
+			// Handle relay sends individually (less common path)
+			f.sendNoMetrics(header.Message, 0, ci, hostinfo, netip.AddrPort{}, packet, nb, out, q)
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// Collect for batched encryption
+		preEncryptionBatch = append(preEncryptionBatch, preEncryptionPacket{
+			hostinfo: hostinfo,
+			ci:       ci,
+			packet:   packet,
+			out:      out,
+		})
+	}
+
+	// BATCH ENCRYPTION: Process all collected packets
+	if len(preEncryptionBatch) > 0 {
+		f.encryptBatch(preEncryptionBatch, nb, batchPackets, batchAddrs)
+	}
+
+	// Send all accumulated packets in one batch
+	if len(*batchPackets) > 0 {
+		batchSize := len(*batchPackets)
+		n, err := f.writers[q].WriteMulti(*batchPackets, *batchAddrs)
+		if err != nil {
+			f.l.WithError(err).WithField("sent", n).WithField("total", batchSize).Error("Failed to send batch")
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// encryptBatch processes multiple packets, grouping by ConnectionState to reduce lock acquisitions
+func (f *Interface) encryptBatch(batch []preEncryptionPacket, nb []byte, batchPackets *[][]byte, batchAddrs *[]netip.AddrPort) {
+	lockStart := time.Now()
+	lockAcquisitions := int64(0)
+
+	if noiseutil.EncryptLockNeeded {
+		// Group packets by ConnectionState to minimize lock acquisitions
+		// Process packets in order but batch lock acquisitions per CI
+		var currentCI *ConnectionState
+		var lockHeld bool
+
+		for i := range batch {
+			ci := batch[i].ci
+			hostinfo := batch[i].hostinfo
+
+			// Validate packet data to prevent nil pointer dereference
+			if ci == nil || hostinfo == nil {
+				continue
+			}
+
+			// Switch locks if we're moving to a different ConnectionState
+			if ci != currentCI {
+				if lockHeld {
+					currentCI.writeLock.Unlock()
+				}
+				ci.writeLock.Lock()
+				lockAcquisitions++
+				currentCI = ci
+				lockHeld = true
+			}
+
+			c := ci.messageCounter.Add(1)
+			out := header.Encode(batch[i].out, header.Version, header.Message, 0, hostinfo.remoteIndexId, c)
+			f.connectionManager.Out(hostinfo)
+
+			// Query lighthouse if needed
+			if hostinfo.lastRebindCount != f.rebindCount {
+				f.lightHouse.QueryServer(hostinfo.vpnAddrs[0])
+				hostinfo.lastRebindCount = f.rebindCount
+				if f.l.Level >= logrus.DebugLevel {
+					f.l.WithField("vpnAddrs", hostinfo.vpnAddrs).Debug("Lighthouse update triggered for punch due to rebind counter")
+				}
+			}
+
+			var err error
+			out, err = ci.eKey.EncryptDanger(out, out, batch[i].packet, c, nb)
+			if err != nil {
+				hostinfo.logger(f.l).WithError(err).
+					WithField("counter", c).
+					Error("Failed to encrypt outgoing packet")
+				continue
+			}
+
+			// Add to output batches
+			*batchPackets = append(*batchPackets, out)
+			*batchAddrs = append(*batchAddrs, hostinfo.remote)
+		}
+
+		// Release final lock
+		if lockHeld {
+			currentCI.writeLock.Unlock()
+		}
+	} else {
+		// No locks needed - process directly
+		for i := range batch {
+			ci := batch[i].ci
+			hostinfo := batch[i].hostinfo
+
+			// Validate packet data to prevent nil pointer dereference
+			if ci == nil || hostinfo == nil {
+				continue
+			}
+
+			c := ci.messageCounter.Add(1)
+			out := header.Encode(batch[i].out, header.Version, header.Message, 0, hostinfo.remoteIndexId, c)
+			f.connectionManager.Out(hostinfo)
+
+			// Query lighthouse if needed
+			if hostinfo.lastRebindCount != f.rebindCount {
+				f.lightHouse.QueryServer(hostinfo.vpnAddrs[0])
+				hostinfo.lastRebindCount = f.rebindCount
+				if f.l.Level >= logrus.DebugLevel {
+					f.l.WithField("vpnAddrs", hostinfo.vpnAddrs).Debug("Lighthouse update triggered for punch due to rebind counter")
+				}
+			}
+
+			var err error
+			out, err = ci.eKey.EncryptDanger(out, out, batch[i].packet, c, nb)
+			if err != nil {
+				hostinfo.logger(f.l).WithError(err).
+					WithField("counter", c).
+					Error("Failed to encrypt outgoing packet")
+				continue
+			}
+
+			// Add to output batches
+			*batchPackets = append(*batchPackets, out)
+			*batchAddrs = append(*batchAddrs, hostinfo.remote)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Record metrics
+	encryptionTime := time.Since(lockStart)
+	if noiseutil.EncryptLockNeeded {
+		f.batchMetrics.lockAcquisitions.Inc(lockAcquisitions)
+	}
+	f.batchMetrics.encryptionTime.Update(encryptionTime.Nanoseconds())
+	f.batchMetrics.batchSize.Update(int64(len(batch)))
+}
+
 func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePacket(packet []byte, fwPacket *firewall.Packet, nb, out []byte, q int, localCache firewall.ConntrackCache) {
 	err := newPacket(packet, false, fwPacket)
 	if err != nil {

interface.go

@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"net/netip"
 	"os"
 	"runtime"
@@ -22,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 const mtu = 9001
+const virtioNetHdrLen = overlay.VirtioNetHdrLen
 
 type InterfaceConfig struct {
 	HostMap            *HostMap
@@ -50,6 +50,13 @@ type InterfaceConfig struct {
 	l                     *logrus.Logger
 }
 
+type batchMetrics struct {
+	udpReadSize      metrics.Histogram
+	encryptionTime   metrics.Histogram // Time spent in encryption (including lock waits)
+	batchSize        metrics.Histogram // Dynamic batch sizes being used
+	lockAcquisitions metrics.Counter   // Number of lock acquisitions (should be minimal)
+}
+
 type Interface struct {
 	hostMap               *HostMap
 	outside               udp.Conn
@@ -87,11 +94,12 @@ type Interface struct {
 	conntrackCacheTimeout time.Duration
 
 	writers []udp.Conn
-	readers []io.ReadWriteCloser
+	readers []overlay.BatchReadWriter
 
 	metricHandshakes    metrics.Histogram
 	messageMetrics      *MessageMetrics
 	cachedPacketMetrics *cachedPacketMetrics
+	batchMetrics        *batchMetrics
 
 	l *logrus.Logger
 }
@@ -178,7 +186,7 @@ func NewInterface(ctx context.Context, c *InterfaceConfig) (*Interface, error) {
 		routines:              c.routines,
 		version:               c.version,
 		writers:               make([]udp.Conn, c.routines),
-		readers:               make([]io.ReadWriteCloser, c.routines),
+		readers:               make([]overlay.BatchReadWriter, c.routines),
 		myVpnNetworks:         cs.myVpnNetworks,
 		myVpnNetworksTable:    cs.myVpnNetworksTable,
 		myVpnAddrs:            cs.myVpnAddrs,
@@ -194,6 +202,12 @@ func NewInterface(ctx context.Context, c *InterfaceConfig) (*Interface, error) {
 			sent:    metrics.GetOrRegisterCounter("hostinfo.cached_packets.sent", nil),
 			dropped: metrics.GetOrRegisterCounter("hostinfo.cached_packets.dropped", nil),
 		},
+		batchMetrics: &batchMetrics{
+			udpReadSize:      metrics.GetOrRegisterHistogram("batch.udp_read_size", nil, metrics.NewUniformSample(1024)),
+			encryptionTime:   metrics.GetOrRegisterHistogram("batch.encryption_time_ns", nil, metrics.NewUniformSample(1024)),
+			batchSize:        metrics.GetOrRegisterHistogram("batch.size", nil, metrics.NewUniformSample(1024)),
+			lockAcquisitions: metrics.GetOrRegisterCounter("batch.lock_acquisitions", nil),
+		},
 
 		l: c.l,
 	}
@@ -233,7 +247,7 @@ func (f *Interface) activate() {
 	metrics.GetOrRegisterGauge("routines", nil).Update(int64(f.routines))
 
 	// Prepare n tun queues
-	var reader io.ReadWriteCloser = f.inside
+	var reader overlay.BatchReadWriter = f.inside
 	for i := 0; i < f.routines; i++ {
 		if i > 0 {
 			reader, err = f.inside.NewMultiQueueReader()
@@ -274,39 +288,68 @@ func (f *Interface) listenOut(i int) {
 
 	ctCache := firewall.NewConntrackCacheTicker(f.conntrackCacheTimeout)
 	lhh := f.lightHouse.NewRequestHandler()
-	plaintext := make([]byte, udp.MTU)
+
+	// Pre-allocate output buffers for batch processing
+	batchSize := li.BatchSize()
+	outs := make([][]byte, batchSize)
+	for idx := range outs {
+		// Allocate full buffer with virtio header space
+		outs[idx] = make([]byte, virtioNetHdrLen, virtioNetHdrLen+udp.MTU)
+	}
+
 	h := &header.H{}
 	fwPacket := &firewall.Packet{}
-	nb := make([]byte, 12, 12)
+	nb := make([]byte, 12)
+
+	li.ListenOutBatch(func(addrs []netip.AddrPort, payloads [][]byte, count int) {
+		f.readOutsidePacketsBatch(addrs, payloads, count, outs[:count], nb, i, h, fwPacket, lhh, ctCache.Get(f.l))
 
-	li.ListenOut(func(fromUdpAddr netip.AddrPort, payload []byte) {
-		f.readOutsidePackets(ViaSender{UdpAddr: fromUdpAddr}, plaintext[:0], payload, h, fwPacket, lhh, nb, i, ctCache.Get(f.l))
 	})
 }
 
-func (f *Interface) listenIn(reader io.ReadWriteCloser, i int) {
+func (f *Interface) listenIn(reader overlay.BatchReadWriter, i int) {
 	runtime.LockOSThread()
 
-	packet := make([]byte, mtu)
+	batchSize := reader.BatchSize()
-	out := make([]byte, mtu)
+
-	fwPacket := &firewall.Packet{}
+	// Allocate buffers for batch reading
-	nb := make([]byte, 12, 12)
+	bufs := make([][]byte, batchSize)
+	for idx := range bufs {
+		bufs[idx] = make([]byte, mtu)
+	}
+	sizes := make([]int, batchSize)
+
+	// Allocate output buffers for batch processing (one per packet)
+	// Each has virtio header headroom to avoid copies on write
+	outs := make([][]byte, batchSize)
+	for idx := range outs {
+		outBuf := make([]byte, virtioNetHdrLen+mtu)
+		outs[idx] = outBuf[virtioNetHdrLen:] // Slice starting after headroom
+	}
+
+	// Pre-allocate batch accumulation buffers for sending
+	batchPackets := make([][]byte, 0, batchSize)
+	batchAddrs := make([]netip.AddrPort, 0, batchSize)
+
+	// Pre-allocate nonce buffer (reused for all encryptions)
+	nb := make([]byte, 12)
 
 	conntrackCache := firewall.NewConntrackCacheTicker(f.conntrackCacheTimeout)
 
 	for {
-		n, err := reader.Read(packet)
+		n, err := reader.BatchRead(bufs, sizes)
 		if err != nil {
 			if errors.Is(err, os.ErrClosed) && f.closed.Load() {
 				return
 			}
 
-			f.l.WithError(err).Error("Error while reading outbound packet")
+			f.l.WithError(err).Error("Error while batch reading outbound packets")
 			// This only seems to happen when something fatal happens to the fd, so exit.
 			os.Exit(2)
 		}
 
-		f.consumeInsidePacket(packet[:n], fwPacket, nb, out, i, conntrackCache.Get(f.l))
+		// Process all packets in the batch at once
+		f.consumeInsidePackets(bufs, sizes, n, outs, nb, i, conntrackCache.Get(f.l), &batchPackets, &batchAddrs)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -490,6 +533,14 @@ func (f *Interface) Close() error {
 			f.l.WithError(err).Error("Error while closing udp socket")
 		}
 	}
+	for i, r := range f.readers {
+		if i == 0 {
+			continue // f.readers[0] is f.inside, which we want to save for last
+		}
+		if err := r.Close(); err != nil {
+			f.l.WithError(err).Error("Error while closing tun reader")
+		}
+	}
 
 	// Release the tun device
 	return f.inside.Close()

lighthouse_test.go

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package nebula
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"encoding/binary"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/netip"
@@ -42,14 +41,14 @@ func Test_lhStaticMapping(t *testing.T) {
 	c := config.NewC(l)
 	c.Settings["lighthouse"] = map[string]any{"hosts": []any{lh1}}
 	c.Settings["static_host_map"] = map[string]any{lh1: []any{"1.1.1.1:4242"}}
-	_, err := NewLightHouseFromConfig(context.Background(), l, c, cs, nil, nil)
+	_, err := NewLightHouseFromConfig(t.Context(), l, c, cs, nil, nil)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	lh2 := "10.128.0.3"
 	c = config.NewC(l)
 	c.Settings["lighthouse"] = map[string]any{"hosts": []any{lh1, lh2}}
 	c.Settings["static_host_map"] = map[string]any{lh1: []any{"100.1.1.1:4242"}}
-	_, err = NewLightHouseFromConfig(context.Background(), l, c, cs, nil, nil)
+	_, err = NewLightHouseFromConfig(t.Context(), l, c, cs, nil, nil)
 	require.EqualError(t, err, "lighthouse 10.128.0.3 does not have a static_host_map entry")
 }
 
@@ -71,7 +70,7 @@ func TestReloadLighthouseInterval(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	c.Settings["static_host_map"] = map[string]any{lh1: []any{"1.1.1.1:4242"}}
-	lh, err := NewLightHouseFromConfig(context.Background(), l, c, cs, nil, nil)
+	lh, err := NewLightHouseFromConfig(t.Context(), l, c, cs, nil, nil)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	lh.ifce = &mockEncWriter{}
 
@@ -99,7 +98,7 @@ func BenchmarkLighthouseHandleRequest(b *testing.B) {
 	}
 
 	c := config.NewC(l)
-	lh, err := NewLightHouseFromConfig(context.Background(), l, c, cs, nil, nil)
+	lh, err := NewLightHouseFromConfig(b.Context(), l, c, cs, nil, nil)
 	require.NoError(b, err)
 
 	hAddr := netip.MustParseAddrPort("4.5.6.7:12345")
@@ -202,7 +201,7 @@ func TestLighthouse_Memory(t *testing.T) {
 		myVpnNetworks:      []netip.Prefix{myVpnNet},
 		myVpnNetworksTable: nt,
 	}
-	lh, err := NewLightHouseFromConfig(context.Background(), l, c, cs, nil, nil)
+	lh, err := NewLightHouseFromConfig(t.Context(), l, c, cs, nil, nil)
 	lh.ifce = &mockEncWriter{}
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	lhh := lh.NewRequestHandler()
@@ -288,7 +287,7 @@ func TestLighthouse_reload(t *testing.T) {
 		myVpnNetworksTable: nt,
 	}
 
-	lh, err := NewLightHouseFromConfig(context.Background(), l, c, cs, nil, nil)
+	lh, err := NewLightHouseFromConfig(t.Context(), l, c, cs, nil, nil)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	nc := map[string]any{
@@ -523,7 +522,7 @@ func TestLighthouse_Dont_Delete_Static_Hosts(t *testing.T) {
 		myVpnNetworks:      []netip.Prefix{myVpnNet},
 		myVpnNetworksTable: nt,
 	}
-	lh, err := NewLightHouseFromConfig(context.Background(), l, c, cs, nil, nil)
+	lh, err := NewLightHouseFromConfig(t.Context(), l, c, cs, nil, nil)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	lh.ifce = &mockEncWriter{}
 
@@ -589,7 +588,7 @@ func TestLighthouse_DeletesWork(t *testing.T) {
 		myVpnNetworks:      []netip.Prefix{myVpnNet},
 		myVpnNetworksTable: nt,
 	}
-	lh, err := NewLightHouseFromConfig(context.Background(), l, c, cs, nil, nil)
+	lh, err := NewLightHouseFromConfig(t.Context(), l, c, cs, nil, nil)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	lh.ifce = &mockEncWriter{}
 

main.go

@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ func Main(c *config.C, configTest bool, buildVersion string, logger *logrus.Logg
 
 		for i := 0; i < routines; i++ {
 			l.Infof("listening on %v", netip.AddrPortFrom(listenHost, uint16(port)))
-			udpServer, err := udp.NewListener(l, listenHost, port, routines > 1, c.GetInt("listen.batch", 64))
+			udpServer, err := udp.NewListener(l, listenHost, port, routines > 1, c.GetInt("listen.batch", 128))
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, util.NewContextualError("Failed to open udp listener", m{"queue": i}, err)
 			}

outside.go

@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ func (f *Interface) readOutsidePackets(via ViaSender, out []byte, packet []byte,
 					relay:     relay,
 					IsRelayed: true,
 				}
-				f.readOutsidePackets(via, out[:0], signedPayload, h, fwPacket, lhf, nb, q, localCache)
+				f.readOutsidePackets(via, out[:virtioNetHdrLen], signedPayload, h, fwPacket, lhf, nb, q, localCache)
 				return
 			case ForwardingType:
 				// Find the target HostInfo relay object
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ func (f *Interface) readOutsidePackets(via ViaSender, out []byte, packet []byte,
 		}
 
 		//TODO: assert via is not relayed
-		lhf.HandleRequest(via.UdpAddr, hostinfo.vpnAddrs, d, f)
+		lhf.HandleRequest(via.UdpAddr, hostinfo.vpnAddrs, d[virtioNetHdrLen:], f)
 
 		// Fallthrough to the bottom to record incoming traffic
 
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ func (f *Interface) readOutsidePackets(via ViaSender, out []byte, packet []byte,
 			// This testRequest might be from TryPromoteBest, so we should roam
 			// to the new IP address before responding
 			f.handleHostRoaming(hostinfo, via)
-			f.send(header.Test, header.TestReply, ci, hostinfo, d, nb, out)
+			f.send(header.Test, header.TestReply, ci, hostinfo, d[virtioNetHdrLen:], nb, out)
 		}
 
 		// Fallthrough to the bottom to record incoming traffic
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ func (f *Interface) readOutsidePackets(via ViaSender, out []byte, packet []byte,
 			return
 		}
 
-		f.relayManager.HandleControlMsg(hostinfo, d, f)
+		f.relayManager.HandleControlMsg(hostinfo, d[virtioNetHdrLen:], f)
 
 	default:
 		f.messageMetrics.Rx(h.Type, h.Subtype, 1)
@@ -481,9 +481,11 @@ func (f *Interface) decryptToTun(hostinfo *HostInfo, messageCounter uint64, out
 		return false
 	}
 
-	err = newPacket(out, true, fwPacket)
+	packetData := out[virtioNetHdrLen:]
+
+	err = newPacket(packetData, true, fwPacket)
 	if err != nil {
-		hostinfo.logger(f.l).WithError(err).WithField("packet", out).
+		hostinfo.logger(f.l).WithError(err).WithField("packet", packetData).
 			Warnf("Error while validating inbound packet")
 		return false
 	}
@@ -498,7 +500,7 @@ func (f *Interface) decryptToTun(hostinfo *HostInfo, messageCounter uint64, out
 	if dropReason != nil {
 		// NOTE: We give `packet` as the `out` here since we already decrypted from it and we don't need it anymore
 		// This gives us a buffer to build the reject packet in
-		f.rejectOutside(out, hostinfo.ConnectionState, hostinfo, nb, packet, q)
+		f.rejectOutside(packetData, hostinfo.ConnectionState, hostinfo, nb, packet, q)
 		if f.l.Level >= logrus.DebugLevel {
 			hostinfo.logger(f.l).WithField("fwPacket", fwPacket).
 				WithField("reason", dropReason).
@@ -562,3 +564,108 @@ func (f *Interface) handleRecvError(addr netip.AddrPort, h *header.H) {
 	// We also delete it from pending hostmap to allow for fast reconnect.
 	f.handshakeManager.DeleteHostInfo(hostinfo)
 }
+
+// readOutsidePacketsBatch processes multiple packets received from UDP in a batch
+// and writes all successfully decrypted packets to TUN in a single operation
+func (f *Interface) readOutsidePacketsBatch(addrs []netip.AddrPort, payloads [][]byte, count int, outs [][]byte, nb []byte, q int, h *header.H, fwPacket *firewall.Packet, lhf *LightHouseHandler, localCache firewall.ConntrackCache) {
+	// Pre-allocate slice for accumulating successful decryptions
+	tunPackets := make([][]byte, 0, count)
+
+	for i := 0; i < count; i++ {
+		payload := payloads[i]
+		addr := addrs[i]
+		out := outs[i]
+
+		// Parse header
+		err := h.Parse(payload)
+		if err != nil {
+			if len(payload) > 1 {
+				f.l.WithField("packet", payload).Infof("Error while parsing inbound packet from %s: %s", addr, err)
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if addr.IsValid() {
+			if f.myVpnNetworksTable.Contains(addr.Addr()) {
+				if f.l.Level >= logrus.DebugLevel {
+					f.l.WithField("udpAddr", addr).Debug("Refusing to process double encrypted packet")
+				}
+				continue
+			}
+		}
+
+		var hostinfo *HostInfo
+		if h.Type == header.Message && h.Subtype == header.MessageRelay {
+			hostinfo = f.hostMap.QueryRelayIndex(h.RemoteIndex)
+		} else {
+			hostinfo = f.hostMap.QueryIndex(h.RemoteIndex)
+		}
+
+		var ci *ConnectionState
+		if hostinfo != nil {
+			ci = hostinfo.ConnectionState
+		}
+
+		switch h.Type {
+		case header.Message:
+			if !f.handleEncrypted(ci, ViaSender{UdpAddr: addr}, h) {
+				continue
+			}
+
+			switch h.Subtype {
+			case header.MessageNone:
+				// Decrypt packet
+				out, err = hostinfo.ConnectionState.dKey.DecryptDanger(out, payload[:header.Len], payload[header.Len:], h.MessageCounter, nb)
+				if err != nil {
+					hostinfo.logger(f.l).WithError(err).Error("Failed to decrypt packet")
+					continue
+				}
+
+				packetData := out[virtioNetHdrLen:]
+
+				err = newPacket(packetData, true, fwPacket)
+				if err != nil {
+					hostinfo.logger(f.l).WithError(err).WithField("packet", packetData).Warnf("Error while validating inbound packet")
+					continue
+				}
+
+				if !hostinfo.ConnectionState.window.Update(f.l, h.MessageCounter) {
+					hostinfo.logger(f.l).WithField("fwPacket", fwPacket).Debugln("dropping out of window packet")
+					continue
+				}
+
+				dropReason := f.firewall.Drop(*fwPacket, true, hostinfo, f.pki.GetCAPool(), localCache)
+				if dropReason != nil {
+					f.rejectOutside(packetData, hostinfo.ConnectionState, hostinfo, nb, payload, q)
+					if f.l.Level >= logrus.DebugLevel {
+						hostinfo.logger(f.l).WithField("fwPacket", fwPacket).WithField("reason", dropReason).Debugln("dropping inbound packet")
+					}
+					continue
+				}
+
+				f.connectionManager.In(hostinfo)
+				// Add to batch for TUN write
+				tunPackets = append(tunPackets, out)
+
+			case header.MessageRelay:
+				// Skip relay packets in batch mode for now (less common path)
+				f.readOutsidePackets(ViaSender{UdpAddr: addr}, out[:virtioNetHdrLen], payload, h, fwPacket, lhf, nb, q, localCache)
+
+			default:
+				hostinfo.logger(f.l).Debugf("unexpected message subtype %d", h.Subtype)
+			}
+
+		default:
+			// Handle non-Message types using single-packet path
+			f.readOutsidePackets(ViaSender{UdpAddr: addr}, out[:virtioNetHdrLen], payload, h, fwPacket, lhf, nb, q, localCache)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if len(tunPackets) > 0 {
+		n, err := f.readers[q].WriteBatch(tunPackets, virtioNetHdrLen)
+		if err != nil {
+			f.l.WithError(err).WithField("sent", n).WithField("total", len(tunPackets)).Error("Failed to batch write to tun")
+		}
+
+	}
+}

overlay/device.go

@@ -7,12 +7,26 @@ import (
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
 )
 
-type Device interface {
+// BatchReadWriter extends io.ReadWriteCloser with batch I/O operations
+type BatchReadWriter interface {
 	io.ReadWriteCloser
+
+	// BatchRead reads multiple packets at once
+	BatchRead(bufs [][]byte, sizes []int) (int, error)
+
+	// WriteBatch writes multiple packets at once
+	WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, offset int) (int, error)
+
+	// BatchSize returns the optimal batch size for this device
+	BatchSize() int
+}
+
+type Device interface {
+	BatchReadWriter
 	Activate() error
 	Networks() []netip.Prefix
 	Name() string
 	RoutesFor(netip.Addr) routing.Gateways
 	SupportsMultiqueue() bool
-	NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error)
+	NewMultiQueueReader() (BatchReadWriter, error)
 }

overlay/tun.go

@@ -11,6 +11,16 @@ import (
 )
 
 const DefaultMTU = 1300
+const VirtioNetHdrLen = 10 // Size of virtio_net_hdr structure
+
+type NameError struct {
+	Name       string
+	Underlying error
+}
+
+func (e *NameError) Error() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("could not set tun device name: %s because %s", e.Name, e.Underlying)
+}
 
 // TODO: We may be able to remove routines
 type DeviceFactory func(c *config.C, l *logrus.Logger, vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix, routines int) (Device, error)

overlay/tun_android.go

@@ -99,6 +99,29 @@ func (t *tun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
+func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (BatchReadWriter, error) {
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for android")
 }
+
+func (t *tun) BatchRead(bufs [][]byte, sizes []int) (int, error) {
+	n, err := t.Read(bufs[0])
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	sizes[0] = n
+	return 1, nil
+}
+
+func (t *tun) WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, offset int) (int, error) {
+	for i, buf := range bufs {
+		_, err := t.Write(buf[offset:])
+		if err != nil {
+			return i, err
+		}
+	}
+	return len(bufs), nil
+}
+
+func (t *tun) BatchSize() int {
+	return 1
+}

overlay/tun_darwin.go

@@ -553,6 +553,32 @@ func (t *tun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
+func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (BatchReadWriter, error) {
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for darwin")
 }
+
+// BatchRead reads a single packet (batch size 1 for non-Linux platforms)
+func (t *tun) BatchRead(bufs [][]byte, sizes []int) (int, error) {
+	n, err := t.Read(bufs[0])
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	sizes[0] = n
+	return 1, nil
+}
+
+// WriteBatch writes packets individually (no batching for non-Linux platforms)
+func (t *tun) WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, offset int) (int, error) {
+	for i, buf := range bufs {
+		_, err := t.Write(buf[offset:])
+		if err != nil {
+			return i, err
+		}
+	}
+	return len(bufs), nil
+}
+
+// BatchSize returns 1 for non-Linux platforms (no batching)
+func (t *tun) BatchSize() int {
+	return 1
+}

overlay/tun_disabled.go

@@ -109,10 +109,36 @@ func (t *disabledTun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-func (t *disabledTun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
+func (t *disabledTun) NewMultiQueueReader() (BatchReadWriter, error) {
 	return t, nil
 }
 
+// BatchRead reads a single packet (batch size 1 for disabled tun)
+func (t *disabledTun) BatchRead(bufs [][]byte, sizes []int) (int, error) {
+	n, err := t.Read(bufs[0])
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	sizes[0] = n
+	return 1, nil
+}
+
+// WriteBatch writes packets individually (no batching for disabled tun)
+func (t *disabledTun) WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, offset int) (int, error) {
+	for i, buf := range bufs {
+		_, err := t.Write(buf[offset:])
+		if err != nil {
+			return i, err
+		}
+	}
+	return len(bufs), nil
+}
+
+// BatchSize returns 1 for disabled tun (no batching)
+func (t *disabledTun) BatchSize() int {
+	return 1
+}
+
 func (t *disabledTun) Close() error {
 	if t.read != nil {
 		close(t.read)

overlay/tun_freebsd.go

@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"io/fs"
 	"net/netip"
 	"sync/atomic"
@@ -266,7 +265,7 @@ func newTun(c *config.C, l *logrus.Logger, vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix, _ bool) (
 		}
 
 		// Set the device name
-		ioctl(fd, syscall.SIOCSIFNAME, uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&ifrr)))
+		_ = ioctl(fd, syscall.SIOCSIFNAME, uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&ifrr)))
 	}
 
 	t := &tun{
@@ -454,10 +453,36 @@ func (t *tun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
+func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (BatchReadWriter, error) {
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for freebsd")
 }
 
+// BatchRead reads a single packet (batch size 1 for FreeBSD)
+func (t *tun) BatchRead(bufs [][]byte, sizes []int) (int, error) {
+	n, err := t.Read(bufs[0])
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	sizes[0] = n
+	return 1, nil
+}
+
+// WriteBatch writes packets individually (no batching for FreeBSD)
+func (t *tun) WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, offset int) (int, error) {
+	for i, buf := range bufs {
+		_, err := t.Write(buf[offset:])
+		if err != nil {
+			return i, err
+		}
+	}
+	return len(bufs), nil
+}
+
+// BatchSize returns 1 for FreeBSD (no batching)
+func (t *tun) BatchSize() int {
+	return 1
+}
+
 func (t *tun) addRoutes(logErrors bool) error {
 	routes := *t.Routes.Load()
 	for _, r := range routes {

overlay/tun_ios.go

@@ -155,6 +155,29 @@ func (t *tun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
+func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (BatchReadWriter, error) {
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for ios")
 }
+
+func (t *tun) BatchRead(bufs [][]byte, sizes []int) (int, error) {
+	n, err := t.Read(bufs[0])
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	sizes[0] = n
+	return 1, nil
+}
+
+func (t *tun) WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, offset int) (int, error) {
+	for i, buf := range bufs {
+		_, err := t.Write(buf[offset:])
+		if err != nil {
+			return i, err
+		}
+	}
+	return len(bufs), nil
+}
+
+func (t *tun) BatchSize() int {
+	return 1
+}

overlay/tun_linux.go

@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import (
 	"net"
 	"net/netip"
 	"os"
-	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
@@ -22,10 +21,12 @@ import (
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/util"
 	"github.com/vishvananda/netlink"
 	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
+	wgtun "golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/tun"
 )
 
 type tun struct {
 	io.ReadWriteCloser
+	wgDevice    wgtun.Device
 	fd          int
 	Device      string
 	vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix
@@ -71,59 +72,154 @@ type ifreqQLEN struct {
 	pad   [8]byte
 }
 
-func newTunFromFd(c *config.C, l *logrus.Logger, deviceFd int, vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix) (*tun, error) {
+// wgDeviceWrapper wraps a wireguard Device to implement io.ReadWriteCloser
-	file := os.NewFile(uintptr(deviceFd), "/dev/net/tun")
+// This allows multiqueue readers to use the same wireguard Device batching as the main device
+type wgDeviceWrapper struct {
+	dev wgtun.Device
+	buf []byte // Reusable buffer for single packet reads
+}
 
+func (w *wgDeviceWrapper) Read(b []byte) (int, error) {
+	// Use wireguard Device's batch API for single packet
+	bufs := [][]byte{b}
+	sizes := make([]int, 1)
+	n, err := w.dev.Read(bufs, sizes, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	if n == 0 {
+		return 0, io.EOF
+	}
+	return sizes[0], nil
+}
+
+func (w *wgDeviceWrapper) Write(b []byte) (int, error) {
+	// Buffer b should have virtio header space (10 bytes) at the beginning
+	// The decrypted packet data starts at offset 10
+	// Pass the full buffer to WireGuard with offset=virtioNetHdrLen
+	bufs := [][]byte{b}
+	n, err := w.dev.Write(bufs, VirtioNetHdrLen)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	if n == 0 {
+		return 0, io.ErrShortWrite
+	}
+	return len(b), nil
+}
+
+func (w *wgDeviceWrapper) WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, offset int) (int, error) {
+	// Pass all buffers to WireGuard's batch write
+	return w.dev.Write(bufs, offset)
+}
+
+func (w *wgDeviceWrapper) Close() error {
+	return w.dev.Close()
+}
+
+// BatchRead implements batching for multiqueue readers
+func (w *wgDeviceWrapper) BatchRead(bufs [][]byte, sizes []int) (int, error) {
+	// The zero here is offset.
+	return w.dev.Read(bufs, sizes, 0)
+}
+
+// BatchSize returns the optimal batch size
+func (w *wgDeviceWrapper) BatchSize() int {
+	return w.dev.BatchSize()
+}
+
+func newTunFromFd(c *config.C, l *logrus.Logger, deviceFd int, vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix) (*tun, error) {
+	wgDev, name, err := wgtun.CreateUnmonitoredTUNFromFD(deviceFd)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create TUN from FD: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	file := wgDev.File()
 	t, err := newTunGeneric(c, l, file, vpnNetworks)
 	if err != nil {
+		_ = wgDev.Close()
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	t.Device = "tun0"
+	t.wgDevice = wgDev
+	t.Device = name
 
 	return t, nil
 }
 
 func newTun(c *config.C, l *logrus.Logger, vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix, multiqueue bool) (*tun, error) {
-	fd, err := unix.Open("/dev/net/tun", os.O_RDWR, 0)
+	// Check if /dev/net/tun exists, create if needed (for docker containers)
-	if err != nil {
+	if _, err := os.Stat("/dev/net/tun"); os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		// If /dev/net/tun doesn't exist, try to create it (will happen in docker)
+		if err := os.MkdirAll("/dev/net", 0755); err != nil {
-		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("/dev/net/tun doesn't exist, failed to mkdir -p /dev/net: %w", err)
-			err = os.MkdirAll("/dev/net", 0755)
+		}
-			if err != nil {
+		if err := unix.Mknod("/dev/net/tun", unix.S_IFCHR|0600, int(unix.Mkdev(10, 200))); err != nil {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("/dev/net/tun doesn't exist, failed to mkdir -p /dev/net: %w", err)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create /dev/net/tun: %w", err)
-			}
-			err = unix.Mknod("/dev/net/tun", unix.S_IFCHR|0600, int(unix.Mkdev(10, 200)))
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create /dev/net/tun: %w", err)
-			}
-
-			fd, err = unix.Open("/dev/net/tun", os.O_RDWR, 0)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("created /dev/net/tun, but still failed: %w", err)
-			}
-		} else {
-			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
 
-	var req ifReq
+	devName := c.GetString("tun.dev", "")
-	req.Flags = uint16(unix.IFF_TUN | unix.IFF_NO_PI)
+	mtu := c.GetInt("tun.mtu", DefaultMTU)
-	if multiqueue {
-		req.Flags |= unix.IFF_MULTI_QUEUE
-	}
-	copy(req.Name[:], c.GetString("tun.dev", ""))
-	if err = ioctl(uintptr(fd), uintptr(unix.TUNSETIFF), uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&req))); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	name := strings.Trim(string(req.Name[:]), "\x00")
 
-	file := os.NewFile(uintptr(fd), "/dev/net/tun")
+	// Create TUN device manually to support multiqueue
-	t, err := newTunGeneric(c, l, file, vpnNetworks)
+	fd, err := unix.Open("/dev/net/tun", os.O_RDWR, 0)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	var req ifReq
+	req.Flags = uint16(unix.IFF_TUN | unix.IFF_NO_PI | unix.IFF_VNET_HDR)
+	if multiqueue {
+		req.Flags |= unix.IFF_MULTI_QUEUE
+	}
+	copy(req.Name[:], devName)
+	if err = ioctl(uintptr(fd), uintptr(unix.TUNSETIFF), uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&req))); err != nil {
+		unix.Close(fd)
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// Set nonblocking
+	if err = unix.SetNonblock(fd, true); err != nil {
+		unix.Close(fd)
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// Enable TCP and UDP offload (TSO/GRO) for performance
+	// This allows the kernel to handle segmentation/coalescing
+	const (
+		tunTCPOffloads = unix.TUN_F_CSUM | unix.TUN_F_TSO4 | unix.TUN_F_TSO6
+		tunUDPOffloads = unix.TUN_F_USO4 | unix.TUN_F_USO6
+	)
+	offloads := tunTCPOffloads | tunUDPOffloads
+	if err = unix.IoctlSetInt(fd, unix.TUNSETOFFLOAD, offloads); err != nil {
+		// Log warning but don't fail - offload is optional
+		l.WithError(err).Warn("Failed to enable TUN offload (TSO/GRO), performance may be reduced")
+	}
+
+	file := os.NewFile(uintptr(fd), "/dev/net/tun")
+
+	// Create wireguard device from file descriptor
+	wgDev, err := wgtun.CreateTUNFromFile(file, mtu)
+	if err != nil {
+		file.Close()
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create TUN from file: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	name, err := wgDev.Name()
+	if err != nil {
+		_ = wgDev.Close()
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get TUN device name: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// file is now owned by wgDev, get a new reference
+	file = wgDev.File()
+	t, err := newTunGeneric(c, l, file, vpnNetworks)
+	if err != nil {
+		_ = wgDev.Close()
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	t.wgDevice = wgDev
 	t.Device = name
 
 	return t, nil
@@ -234,22 +330,44 @@ func (t *tun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
+func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (BatchReadWriter, error) {
 	fd, err := unix.Open("/dev/net/tun", os.O_RDWR, 0)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	var req ifReq
-	req.Flags = uint16(unix.IFF_TUN | unix.IFF_NO_PI | unix.IFF_MULTI_QUEUE)
+	// MUST match the flags used in newTun - includes IFF_VNET_HDR
+	req.Flags = uint16(unix.IFF_TUN | unix.IFF_NO_PI | unix.IFF_VNET_HDR | unix.IFF_MULTI_QUEUE)
 	copy(req.Name[:], t.Device)
 	if err = ioctl(uintptr(fd), uintptr(unix.TUNSETIFF), uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&req))); err != nil {
+		unix.Close(fd)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	// Set nonblocking mode - CRITICAL for proper netpoller integration
+	if err = unix.SetNonblock(fd, true); err != nil {
+		unix.Close(fd)
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// Get MTU from main device
+	mtu := t.MaxMTU
+	if mtu == 0 {
+		mtu = DefaultMTU
+	}
+
 	file := os.NewFile(uintptr(fd), "/dev/net/tun")
 
-	return file, nil
+	// Create wireguard Device from the file descriptor (just like the main device)
+	wgDev, err := wgtun.CreateTUNFromFile(file, mtu)
+	if err != nil {
+		file.Close()
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create multiqueue TUN device: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Return a wrapper that uses the wireguard Device for all I/O
+	return &wgDeviceWrapper{dev: wgDev}, nil
 }
 
 func (t *tun) RoutesFor(ip netip.Addr) routing.Gateways {
@@ -257,7 +375,68 @@ func (t *tun) RoutesFor(ip netip.Addr) routing.Gateways {
 	return r
 }
 
+func (t *tun) Read(b []byte) (int, error) {
+	if t.wgDevice != nil {
+		// Use wireguard device which handles virtio headers internally
+		bufs := [][]byte{b}
+		sizes := make([]int, 1)
+		n, err := t.wgDevice.Read(bufs, sizes, 0)
+		if err != nil {
+			return 0, err
+		}
+		if n == 0 {
+			return 0, io.EOF
+		}
+		return sizes[0], nil
+	}
+
+	// Fallback: direct read from file (shouldn't happen in normal operation)
+	return t.ReadWriteCloser.Read(b)
+}
+
+// BatchRead reads multiple packets at once for improved performance
+// bufs: slice of buffers to read into
+// sizes: slice that will be filled with packet sizes
+// Returns number of packets read
+func (t *tun) BatchRead(bufs [][]byte, sizes []int) (int, error) {
+	if t.wgDevice != nil {
+		return t.wgDevice.Read(bufs, sizes, 0)
+	}
+
+	// Fallback: single packet read
+	n, err := t.ReadWriteCloser.Read(bufs[0])
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	sizes[0] = n
+	return 1, nil
+}
+
+// BatchSize returns the optimal number of packets to read/write in a batch
+func (t *tun) BatchSize() int {
+	if t.wgDevice != nil {
+		return t.wgDevice.BatchSize()
+	}
+	return 1
+}
+
 func (t *tun) Write(b []byte) (int, error) {
+	if t.wgDevice != nil {
+		// Buffer b should have virtio header space (10 bytes) at the beginning
+		// The decrypted packet data starts at offset 10
+		// Pass the full buffer to WireGuard with offset=virtioNetHdrLen
+		bufs := [][]byte{b}
+		n, err := t.wgDevice.Write(bufs, VirtioNetHdrLen)
+		if err != nil {
+			return 0, err
+		}
+		if n == 0 {
+			return 0, io.ErrShortWrite
+		}
+		return len(b), nil
+	}
+
+	// Fallback: direct write (shouldn't happen in normal operation)
 	var nn int
 	maximum := len(b)
 
@@ -280,6 +459,22 @@ func (t *tun) Write(b []byte) (int, error) {
 	}
 }
 
+// WriteBatch writes multiple packets to the TUN device in a single syscall
+func (t *tun) WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, offset int) (int, error) {
+	if t.wgDevice != nil {
+		return t.wgDevice.Write(bufs, offset)
+	}
+
+	// Fallback: write individually (shouldn't happen in normal operation)
+	for i, buf := range bufs {
+		_, err := t.Write(buf)
+		if err != nil {
+			return i, err
+		}
+	}
+	return len(bufs), nil
+}
+
 func (t *tun) deviceBytes() (o [16]byte) {
 	for i, c := range t.Device {
 		o[i] = byte(c)
@@ -707,12 +902,17 @@ func (t *tun) Close() error {
 		close(t.routeChan)
 	}
 
+	if t.wgDevice != nil {
+		_ = t.wgDevice.Close()
+	}
+
 	if t.ReadWriteCloser != nil {
 		_ = t.ReadWriteCloser.Close()
 	}
 
 	if t.ioctlFd > 0 {
 		_ = os.NewFile(t.ioctlFd, "ioctlFd").Close()
+		t.ioctlFd = 0
 	}
 
 	return nil

overlay/tun_netbsd.go

@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ package overlay
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"net/netip"
 	"os"
 	"regexp"
@@ -394,10 +393,33 @@ func (t *tun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
+func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (BatchReadWriter, error) {
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for netbsd")
 }
 
+func (t *tun) BatchRead(bufs [][]byte, sizes []int) (int, error) {
+	n, err := t.Read(bufs[0])
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	sizes[0] = n
+	return 1, nil
+}
+
+func (t *tun) WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, offset int) (int, error) {
+	for i, buf := range bufs {
+		_, err := t.Write(buf[offset:])
+		if err != nil {
+			return i, err
+		}
+	}
+	return len(bufs), nil
+}
+
+func (t *tun) BatchSize() int {
+	return 1
+}
+
 func (t *tun) addRoutes(logErrors bool) error {
 	routes := *t.Routes.Load()
 

overlay/tun_openbsd.go

@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ package overlay
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"net/netip"
 	"os"
 	"regexp"
@@ -314,10 +313,33 @@ func (t *tun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
+func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (BatchReadWriter, error) {
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for openbsd")
 }
 
+func (t *tun) BatchRead(bufs [][]byte, sizes []int) (int, error) {
+	n, err := t.Read(bufs[0])
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	sizes[0] = n
+	return 1, nil
+}
+
+func (t *tun) WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, offset int) (int, error) {
+	for i, buf := range bufs {
+		_, err := t.Write(buf[offset:])
+		if err != nil {
+			return i, err
+		}
+	}
+	return len(bufs), nil
+}
+
+func (t *tun) BatchSize() int {
+	return 1
+}
+
 func (t *tun) addRoutes(logErrors bool) error {
 	routes := *t.Routes.Load()
 

overlay/tun_tester.go

@@ -109,8 +109,12 @@ func (t *TestTun) Write(b []byte) (n int, err error) {
 		return 0, io.ErrClosedPipe
 	}
 
-	packet := make([]byte, len(b), len(b))
+	// Skip virtio header (consistent with production Linux tun)
-	copy(packet, b)
+	// The buffer b has VirtioNetHdrLen bytes of header followed by the actual packet
+	data := b[VirtioNetHdrLen:]
+
+	packet := make([]byte, len(data))
+	copy(packet, data)
 	t.TxPackets <- packet
 	return len(b), nil
 }
@@ -136,6 +140,34 @@ func (t *TestTun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (t *TestTun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
+func (t *TestTun) NewMultiQueueReader() (BatchReadWriter, error) {
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented")
 }
+
+func (t *TestTun) BatchRead(bufs [][]byte, sizes []int) (int, error) {
+	n, err := t.Read(bufs[0])
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	sizes[0] = n
+	return 1, nil
+}
+
+func (t *TestTun) WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, offset int) (int, error) {
+	if t.closed.Load() {
+		return 0, io.ErrClosedPipe
+	}
+
+	for _, buf := range bufs {
+		// Strip the header at offset and send directly to channel
+		data := buf[offset:]
+		packet := make([]byte, len(data))
+		copy(packet, data)
+		t.TxPackets <- packet
+	}
+	return len(bufs), nil
+}
+
+func (t *TestTun) BatchSize() int {
+	return 1
+}

overlay/tun_windows.go

@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ package overlay
 import (
 	"crypto"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"net/netip"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -74,7 +73,10 @@ func newTun(c *config.C, l *logrus.Logger, vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix, _ bool) (
 		l.WithError(err).Debug("Failed to create wintun device, retrying")
 		tunDevice, err = wintun.CreateTUNWithRequestedGUID(deviceName, guid, t.MTU)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("create TUN device failed: %w", err)
+			return nil, &NameError{
+				Name:       deviceName,
+				Underlying: fmt.Errorf("create TUN device failed: %w", err),
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	t.tun = tunDevice.(*wintun.NativeTun)
@@ -238,10 +240,36 @@ func (t *winTun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (t *winTun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
+func (t *winTun) NewMultiQueueReader() (BatchReadWriter, error) {
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for windows")
 }
 
+// BatchRead reads a single packet (batch size 1 for Windows)
+func (t *winTun) BatchRead(bufs [][]byte, sizes []int) (int, error) {
+	n, err := t.Read(bufs[0])
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	sizes[0] = n
+	return 1, nil
+}
+
+// WriteBatch writes packets individually (no batching for Windows)
+func (t *winTun) WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, offset int) (int, error) {
+	for i, buf := range bufs {
+		_, err := t.Write(buf[offset:])
+		if err != nil {
+			return i, err
+		}
+	}
+	return len(bufs), nil
+}
+
+// BatchSize returns 1 for Windows (no batching)
+func (t *winTun) BatchSize() int {
+	return 1
+}
+
 func (t *winTun) Close() error {
 	// It seems that the Windows networking stack doesn't like it when we destroy interfaces that have active routes,
 	// so to be certain, just remove everything before destroying.

overlay/user.go

@@ -50,10 +50,36 @@ func (d *UserDevice) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-func (d *UserDevice) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
+func (d *UserDevice) NewMultiQueueReader() (BatchReadWriter, error) {
 	return d, nil
 }
 
+// BatchRead reads a single packet (batch size 1 for UserDevice)
+func (d *UserDevice) BatchRead(bufs [][]byte, sizes []int) (int, error) {
+	n, err := d.Read(bufs[0])
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	sizes[0] = n
+	return 1, nil
+}
+
+// WriteBatch writes packets individually (no batching for UserDevice)
+func (d *UserDevice) WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, offset int) (int, error) {
+	for i, buf := range bufs {
+		_, err := d.Write(buf[offset:])
+		if err != nil {
+			return i, err
+		}
+	}
+	return len(bufs), nil
+}
+
+// BatchSize returns 1 for UserDevice (no batching)
+func (d *UserDevice) BatchSize() int {
+	return 1
+}
+
 func (d *UserDevice) Pipe() (*io.PipeReader, *io.PipeWriter) {
 	return d.inboundReader, d.outboundWriter
 }

stats.go

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"log"
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
+	_ "net/http/pprof"
 	"runtime"
 	"strconv"
 	"time"

test/device/noop.go

@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
-package test
+package device
 
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"io"
 	"net/netip"
 
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
 )
 
@@ -38,10 +39,25 @@ func (NoopTun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (NoopTun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
+func (NoopTun) NewMultiQueueReader() (overlay.BatchReadWriter, error) {
 	return nil, errors.New("unsupported")
 }
 
 func (NoopTun) Close() error {
 	return nil
 }
+
+// BatchRead implements BatchReadWriter interface
+func (NoopTun) BatchRead(bufs [][]byte, sizes []int) (int, error) {
+	return 0, io.EOF
+}
+
+// WriteBatch implements BatchReadWriter interface
+func (NoopTun) WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, offset int) (int, error) {
+	return len(bufs), nil
+}
+
+// BatchSize implements BatchReadWriter interface
+func (NoopTun) BatchSize() int {
+	return 1
+}

udp/conn.go

@@ -13,13 +13,21 @@ type EncReader func(
 	payload []byte,
 )
 
+type EncBatchReader func(
+	addrs []netip.AddrPort,
+	payloads [][]byte,
+	count int,
+)
+
 type Conn interface {
 	Rebind() error
 	LocalAddr() (netip.AddrPort, error)
-	ListenOut(r EncReader)
+	ListenOutBatch(r EncBatchReader)
 	WriteTo(b []byte, addr netip.AddrPort) error
+	WriteMulti(packets [][]byte, addrs []netip.AddrPort) (int, error)
 	ReloadConfig(c *config.C)
 	SupportsMultipleReaders() bool
+	BatchSize() int
 	Close() error
 }
 
@@ -31,17 +39,25 @@ func (NoopConn) Rebind() error {
 func (NoopConn) LocalAddr() (netip.AddrPort, error) {
 	return netip.AddrPort{}, nil
 }
-func (NoopConn) ListenOut(_ EncReader) {
+
-	return
+func (NoopConn) ListenOut(_ EncReader) {}
-}
+
 func (NoopConn) SupportsMultipleReaders() bool {
 	return false
 }
+
+func (NoopConn) ListenOutBatch(_ EncBatchReader) {}
+
 func (NoopConn) WriteTo(_ []byte, _ netip.AddrPort) error {
 	return nil
 }
-func (NoopConn) ReloadConfig(_ *config.C) {
+func (NoopConn) WriteMulti(_ [][]byte, _ []netip.AddrPort) (int, error) {
-	return
+	return 0, nil
+}
+func (NoopConn) ReloadConfig(_ *config.C) {}
+
+func (NoopConn) BatchSize() int {
+	return 1
 }
 func (NoopConn) Close() error {
 	return nil

udp/udp_darwin.go

@@ -140,6 +140,17 @@ func (u *StdConn) WriteTo(b []byte, ap netip.AddrPort) error {
 	}
 }
 
+// WriteMulti sends multiple packets - fallback implementation without sendmmsg
+func (u *StdConn) WriteMulti(packets [][]byte, addrs []netip.AddrPort) (int, error) {
+	for i := range packets {
+		err := u.WriteTo(packets[i], addrs[i])
+		if err != nil {
+			return i, err
+		}
+	}
+	return len(packets), nil
+}
+
 func (u *StdConn) LocalAddr() (netip.AddrPort, error) {
 	a := u.UDPConn.LocalAddr()
 
@@ -188,6 +199,34 @@ func (u *StdConn) SupportsMultipleReaders() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
+// ListenOutBatch - fallback to single-packet reads for Darwin
+func (u *StdConn) ListenOutBatch(r EncBatchReader) {
+	buffer := make([]byte, MTU)
+	addrs := make([]netip.AddrPort, 1)
+	payloads := make([][]byte, 1)
+
+	for {
+		// Just read one packet at a time and call batch callback with count=1
+		n, rua, err := u.ReadFromUDPAddrPort(buffer)
+		if err != nil {
+			if errors.Is(err, net.ErrClosed) {
+				u.l.WithError(err).Debug("udp socket is closed, exiting read loop")
+				return
+			}
+
+			u.l.WithError(err).Error("unexpected udp socket receive error")
+		}
+
+		addrs[0] = netip.AddrPortFrom(rua.Addr().Unmap(), rua.Port())
+		payloads[0] = buffer[:n]
+		r(addrs, payloads, 1)
+	}
+}
+
+func (u *StdConn) BatchSize() int {
+	return 1
+}
+
 func (u *StdConn) Rebind() error {
 	var err error
 	if u.isV4 {

udp/udp_generic.go

@@ -101,3 +101,38 @@ func (u *GenericConn) ListenOut(r EncReader) {
 func (u *GenericConn) SupportsMultipleReaders() bool {
 	return false
 }
+
+// ListenOutBatch - fallback to single-packet reads for generic platforms
+func (u *GenericConn) ListenOutBatch(r EncBatchReader) {
+	buffer := make([]byte, MTU)
+	addrs := make([]netip.AddrPort, 1)
+	payloads := make([][]byte, 1)
+
+	for {
+		// Just read one packet at a time and call batch callback with count=1
+		n, rua, err := u.ReadFromUDPAddrPort(buffer)
+		if err != nil {
+			u.l.WithError(err).Debug("udp socket is closed, exiting read loop")
+			return
+		}
+
+		addrs[0] = netip.AddrPortFrom(rua.Addr().Unmap(), rua.Port())
+		payloads[0] = buffer[:n]
+		r(addrs, payloads, 1)
+	}
+}
+
+// WriteMulti sends multiple packets - fallback implementation
+func (u *GenericConn) WriteMulti(packets [][]byte, addrs []netip.AddrPort) (int, error) {
+	for i := range packets {
+		err := u.WriteTo(packets[i], addrs[i])
+		if err != nil {
+			return i, err
+		}
+	}
+	return len(packets), nil
+}
+
+func (u *GenericConn) BatchSize() int {
+	return 1
+}

udp/udp_linux.go

@@ -22,6 +22,11 @@ type StdConn struct {
 	isV4  bool
 	l     *logrus.Logger
 	batch int
+
+	// Pre-allocated buffers for batch writes (sized for IPv6, works for both)
+	writeMsgs   []rawMessage
+	writeIovecs []iovec
+	writeNames  [][]byte
 }
 
 func maybeIPV4(ip net.IP) (net.IP, bool) {
@@ -69,7 +74,26 @@ func NewListener(l *logrus.Logger, ip netip.Addr, port int, multi bool, batch in
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to bind to socket: %s", err)
 	}
 
-	return &StdConn{sysFd: fd, isV4: ip.Is4(), l: l, batch: batch}, err
+	c := &StdConn{sysFd: fd, isV4: ip.Is4(), l: l, batch: batch}
+
+	// Pre-allocate write message structures for batching (sized for IPv6, works for both)
+	c.writeMsgs = make([]rawMessage, batch)
+	c.writeIovecs = make([]iovec, batch)
+	c.writeNames = make([][]byte, batch)
+
+	for i := range c.writeMsgs {
+		// Allocate for IPv6 size (larger than IPv4, works for both)
+		c.writeNames[i] = make([]byte, unix.SizeofSockaddrInet6)
+
+		// Point to the iovec in the slice
+		c.writeMsgs[i].Hdr.Iov = &c.writeIovecs[i]
+		c.writeMsgs[i].Hdr.Iovlen = 1
+
+		c.writeMsgs[i].Hdr.Name = &c.writeNames[i][0]
+		// Namelen will be set appropriately in writeMulti4/writeMulti6
+	}
+
+	return c, err
 }
 
 func (u *StdConn) SupportsMultipleReaders() bool {
@@ -122,7 +146,7 @@ func (u *StdConn) LocalAddr() (netip.AddrPort, error) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (u *StdConn) ListenOut(r EncReader) {
+func (u *StdConn) ListenOutBatch(r EncBatchReader) {
 	var ip netip.Addr
 
 	msgs, buffers, names := u.PrepareRawMessages(u.batch)
@@ -131,6 +155,12 @@ func (u *StdConn) ListenOut(r EncReader) {
 		read = u.ReadSingle
 	}
 
+	udpBatchHist := metrics.GetOrRegisterHistogram("batch.udp_read_size", nil, metrics.NewUniformSample(1024))
+
+	// Pre-allocate slices for batch callback
+	addrs := make([]netip.AddrPort, u.batch)
+	payloads := make([][]byte, u.batch)
+
 	for {
 		n, err := read(msgs)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -138,15 +168,21 @@ func (u *StdConn) ListenOut(r EncReader) {
 			return
 		}
 
+		udpBatchHist.Update(int64(n))
+
+		// Prepare batch data
 		for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
-			// Its ok to skip the ok check here, the slicing is the only error that can occur and it will panic
 			if u.isV4 {
 				ip, _ = netip.AddrFromSlice(names[i][4:8])
 			} else {
 				ip, _ = netip.AddrFromSlice(names[i][8:24])
 			}
-			r(netip.AddrPortFrom(ip.Unmap(), binary.BigEndian.Uint16(names[i][2:4])), buffers[i][:msgs[i].Len])
+			addrs[i] = netip.AddrPortFrom(ip.Unmap(), binary.BigEndian.Uint16(names[i][2:4]))
+			payloads[i] = buffers[i][:msgs[i].Len]
 		}
+
+		// Call batch callback with all packets
+		r(addrs, payloads, n)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -198,6 +234,19 @@ func (u *StdConn) WriteTo(b []byte, ip netip.AddrPort) error {
 	return u.writeTo6(b, ip)
 }
 
+func (u *StdConn) WriteMulti(packets [][]byte, addrs []netip.AddrPort) (int, error) {
+	if len(packets) != len(addrs) {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("packets and addrs length mismatch")
+	}
+	if len(packets) == 0 {
+		return 0, nil
+	}
+	if u.isV4 {
+		return u.writeMulti4(packets, addrs)
+	}
+	return u.writeMulti6(packets, addrs)
+}
+
 func (u *StdConn) writeTo6(b []byte, ip netip.AddrPort) error {
 	var rsa unix.RawSockaddrInet6
 	rsa.Family = unix.AF_INET6
@@ -252,6 +301,123 @@ func (u *StdConn) writeTo4(b []byte, ip netip.AddrPort) error {
 	}
 }
 
+func (u *StdConn) writeMulti4(packets [][]byte, addrs []netip.AddrPort) (int, error) {
+	sent := 0
+	for sent < len(packets) {
+		// Determine batch size based on remaining packets and buffer capacity
+		batchSize := len(packets) - sent
+		if batchSize > len(u.writeMsgs) {
+			batchSize = len(u.writeMsgs)
+		}
+
+		// Use pre-allocated buffers
+		msgs := u.writeMsgs[:batchSize]
+		iovecs := u.writeIovecs[:batchSize]
+		names := u.writeNames[:batchSize]
+
+		// Setup message structures for this batch
+		for i := 0; i < batchSize; i++ {
+			pktIdx := sent + i
+			if !addrs[pktIdx].Addr().Is4() {
+				return sent + i, ErrInvalidIPv6RemoteForSocket
+			}
+
+			// Setup the packet buffer
+			iovecs[i].Base = &packets[pktIdx][0]
+			iovecs[i].Len = uint(len(packets[pktIdx]))
+
+			// Setup the destination address
+			rsa := (*unix.RawSockaddrInet4)(unsafe.Pointer(&names[i][0]))
+			rsa.Family = unix.AF_INET
+			rsa.Addr = addrs[pktIdx].Addr().As4()
+			binary.BigEndian.PutUint16((*[2]byte)(unsafe.Pointer(&rsa.Port))[:], addrs[pktIdx].Port())
+
+			// Set the appropriate address length for IPv4
+			msgs[i].Hdr.Namelen = unix.SizeofSockaddrInet4
+		}
+
+		// Send this batch
+		nsent, _, err := unix.Syscall6(
+			unix.SYS_SENDMMSG,
+			uintptr(u.sysFd),
+			uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&msgs[0])),
+			uintptr(batchSize),
+			0,
+			0,
+			0,
+		)
+
+		if err != 0 {
+			return sent + int(nsent), &net.OpError{Op: "sendmmsg", Err: err}
+		}
+
+		sent += int(nsent)
+		if int(nsent) < batchSize {
+			// Couldn't send all packets in batch, return what we sent
+			return sent, nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	return sent, nil
+}
+
+func (u *StdConn) writeMulti6(packets [][]byte, addrs []netip.AddrPort) (int, error) {
+	sent := 0
+	for sent < len(packets) {
+		// Determine batch size based on remaining packets and buffer capacity
+		batchSize := len(packets) - sent
+		if batchSize > len(u.writeMsgs) {
+			batchSize = len(u.writeMsgs)
+		}
+
+		// Use pre-allocated buffers
+		msgs := u.writeMsgs[:batchSize]
+		iovecs := u.writeIovecs[:batchSize]
+		names := u.writeNames[:batchSize]
+
+		// Setup message structures for this batch
+		for i := 0; i < batchSize; i++ {
+			pktIdx := sent + i
+
+			// Setup the packet buffer
+			iovecs[i].Base = &packets[pktIdx][0]
+			iovecs[i].Len = uint(len(packets[pktIdx]))
+
+			// Setup the destination address
+			rsa := (*unix.RawSockaddrInet6)(unsafe.Pointer(&names[i][0]))
+			rsa.Family = unix.AF_INET6
+			rsa.Addr = addrs[pktIdx].Addr().As16()
+			binary.BigEndian.PutUint16((*[2]byte)(unsafe.Pointer(&rsa.Port))[:], addrs[pktIdx].Port())
+
+			// Set the appropriate address length for IPv6
+			msgs[i].Hdr.Namelen = unix.SizeofSockaddrInet6
+		}
+
+		// Send this batch
+		nsent, _, err := unix.Syscall6(
+			unix.SYS_SENDMMSG,
+			uintptr(u.sysFd),
+			uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&msgs[0])),
+			uintptr(batchSize),
+			0,
+			0,
+			0,
+		)
+
+		if err != 0 {
+			return sent + int(nsent), &net.OpError{Op: "sendmmsg", Err: err}
+		}
+
+		sent += int(nsent)
+		if int(nsent) < batchSize {
+			// Couldn't send all packets in batch, return what we sent
+			return sent, nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	return sent, nil
+}
+
 func (u *StdConn) ReloadConfig(c *config.C) {
 	b := c.GetInt("listen.read_buffer", 0)
 	if b > 0 {
@@ -309,6 +475,10 @@ func (u *StdConn) getMemInfo(meminfo *[unix.SK_MEMINFO_VARS]uint32) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (u *StdConn) BatchSize() int {
+	return u.batch
+}
+
 func (u *StdConn) Close() error {
 	return syscall.Close(u.sysFd)
 }

udp/udp_linux_32.go

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import (
 
 type iovec struct {
 	Base *byte
-	Len  uint32
+	Len  uint
 }
 
 type msghdr struct {
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func (u *StdConn) PrepareRawMessages(n int) ([]rawMessage, [][]byte, [][]byte) {
 		names[i] = make([]byte, unix.SizeofSockaddrInet6)
 
 		vs := []iovec{
-			{Base: &buffers[i][0], Len: uint32(len(buffers[i]))},
+			{Base: &buffers[i][0], Len: uint(len(buffers[i]))},
 		}
 
 		msgs[i].Hdr.Iov = &vs[0]

udp/udp_linux_64.go

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import (
 
 type iovec struct {
 	Base *byte
-	Len  uint64
+	Len  uint
 }
 
 type msghdr struct {
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func (u *StdConn) PrepareRawMessages(n int) ([]rawMessage, [][]byte, [][]byte) {
 		names[i] = make([]byte, unix.SizeofSockaddrInet6)
 
 		vs := []iovec{
-			{Base: &buffers[i][0], Len: uint64(len(buffers[i]))},
+			{Base: &buffers[i][0], Len: uint(len(buffers[i]))},
 		}
 
 		msgs[i].Hdr.Iov = &vs[0]

udp/udp_rio_windows.go

@@ -338,6 +338,50 @@ func (u *RIOConn) Rebind() error {
 
 func (u *RIOConn) ReloadConfig(*config.C) {}
 
+// BatchSize returns 1 since RIO reads packets one at a time
+func (u *RIOConn) BatchSize() int {
+	return 1
+}
+
+// ListenOutBatch - fallback to single-packet reads for RIO
+func (u *RIOConn) ListenOutBatch(r EncBatchReader) {
+	buffer := make([]byte, MTU)
+	addrs := make([]netip.AddrPort, 1)
+	payloads := make([][]byte, 1)
+
+	var lastRecvErr time.Time
+
+	for {
+		n, rua, err := u.receive(buffer)
+		if err != nil {
+			if errors.Is(err, net.ErrClosed) {
+				u.l.WithError(err).Debug("udp socket is closed, exiting read loop")
+				return
+			}
+			if lastRecvErr.IsZero() || time.Since(lastRecvErr) > time.Minute {
+				lastRecvErr = time.Now()
+				u.l.WithError(err).Warn("unexpected udp socket receive error")
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+
+		addrs[0] = netip.AddrPortFrom(netip.AddrFrom16(rua.Addr).Unmap(), (rua.Port>>8)|((rua.Port&0xff)<<8))
+		payloads[0] = buffer[:n]
+		r(addrs, payloads, 1)
+	}
+}
+
+// WriteMulti sends multiple packets - fallback implementation
+func (u *RIOConn) WriteMulti(packets [][]byte, addrs []netip.AddrPort) (int, error) {
+	for i := range packets {
+		err := u.WriteTo(packets[i], addrs[i])
+		if err != nil {
+			return i, err
+		}
+	}
+	return len(packets), nil
+}
+
 func (u *RIOConn) Close() error {
 	if !u.isOpen.CompareAndSwap(true, false) {
 		return nil

udp/udp_tester.go

@@ -116,6 +116,31 @@ func (u *TesterConn) ListenOut(r EncReader) {
 	}
 }
 
+func (u *TesterConn) ListenOutBatch(r EncBatchReader) {
+	addrs := make([]netip.AddrPort, 1)
+	payloads := make([][]byte, 1)
+
+	for {
+		p, ok := <-u.RxPackets
+		if !ok {
+			return
+		}
+		addrs[0] = p.From
+		payloads[0] = p.Data
+		r(addrs, payloads, 1)
+	}
+}
+
+func (u *TesterConn) WriteMulti(packets [][]byte, addrs []netip.AddrPort) (int, error) {
+	for i := range packets {
+		err := u.WriteTo(packets[i], addrs[i])
+		if err != nil {
+			return i, err
+		}
+	}
+	return len(packets), nil
+}
+
 func (u *TesterConn) ReloadConfig(*config.C) {}
 
 func NewUDPStatsEmitter(_ []Conn) func() {
@@ -131,6 +156,10 @@ func (u *TesterConn) SupportsMultipleReaders() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
+func (u *TesterConn) BatchSize() int {
+	return 1
+}
+
 func (u *TesterConn) Rebind() error {
 	return nil
 }