From: "Theo de Raadt" <deraadt@openbsd.org>
Subject: Re: Enable ix(4) softLRO for IPv6 traffic
To: Richard von Seck <richard_von_seck@genua.de>
Cc: "tech@openbsd.org" <tech@openbsd.org>
Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:56:20 -0600

Richard von Seck <richard_von_seck@genua.de> wrote:

> this patch enables software large receive offload (LRO) for ix(4)
> devices on IPv6 traffic. IPv6 traffic is identified and then forwarded
> to the existing TCP softLRO implementation as e.g., already used in
> ixl(4).

I'm scared of this, because the ixl(4) LRO enabling story has not been
pleasant.  Many ixl(4) firmwares did thing wrong, and it has taken a long
time to cope with those bugs.  The ix(4) product is generally older
and may have some of the same bugs.

So I think it is fair to ask how many unique ix(4) models was this tested
on?