Fabian Ihle | University of Tübingen

About me

I work on programmable data planes in the group of Prof. Michael Menth. I design network mechanisms and implement them in P4 on high-speed switching hardware (Intel Tofino), with a focus on MPLS Network Actions, Time-Sensitive Networking, and high-speed traffic generation.

I contribute to IETF standardization in the MPLS working group and develop open-source tools such as P4TG, a P4-based traffic generator for up to 10 × 400 Gb/s.

Phone	+49 7071 29-70545 _{I am working from home sometimes. Please send me an email when you can't reach me on the phone.}
E-Mail	fabian.ihle@uni-tuebingen.de
Room	B303
Address	Lehrstuhl für Kommunikationsnetze Universität Tübingen Wilhelm-Schickard-Institut für Informatik Sand 13, 72076 Tübingen
Other	Website

Research

Diagram of an MPLS label stack with an MNA indicator and network actions

MPLS Network Actions

MNA extends the MPLS label stack with network actions and their data, for example for in-situ OAM, path verification, or protection. I implemented MNA in P4 on the Intel Tofino and author IETF drafts on stack management, capability signaling, and stateless egress protection.

P4-MNA on GitHub

Diagram of a time-aware shaper gate schedule with three queues

Time-Sensitive Networking

TSN mechanisms such as per-stream filtering and policing or the time-aware shaper are usually built into fixed-function switches. I implement them in P4 on the Intel Tofino and study how periodic, time-driven behavior works on a pipeline that only reacts to packets.

P4-TAS · P4-PSFP on GitHub

P4TG

P4-based traffic generator and analyser on the Intel Tofino for up to 10 × 400 Gb/s. Recent work adds new protocols, histogram-based RTT monitoring in the data plane, and periodic traffic patterns for DDoS and burst-load evaluation.

P4TG on GitHub

UniCorn-P4

A universal control plane and GUI for P4 programs on the BMv2 software switch. We use it for teaching data plane programming and for quick prototyping.

UniCorn-P4 on GitHub

Software

Open-source tools from my research, developed with colleagues at the chair.

P4TG	Traffic generator and analyser on Intel Tofino, up to 10 × 400 Gb/s	GitHub
P4-MNA	MPLS Network Actions implemented in P4 for the Tofino	GitHub
P4-TAS	Time-aware shaper for Time-Sensitive Networking in P4	GitHub
P4-PSFP	Per-stream filtering and policing for Time-Sensitive Networking in P4	GitHub
RBFRT	Rust Barefoot Runtime: fast runtime control for the Tofino	GitHub
UniCorn-P4	Universal control plane and GUI for teaching P4 on BMv2	GitHub

Timeline

2014 - 2017

Trainee Computer Science Expert Subject Area: System Integration

Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt Nürtingen Geislingen

2017 - 2023

Technical staff in IT security

Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt Nürtingen Geislingen

2018 - 2021

B.Sc. Computer Science

Graduated at University of Tübingen

2021 - 2023

M.Sc. Computer Science

Graduated at University of Tübingen

Since April 2023

PhD Student & Research assistant

Research assistant at the Department of Computer Science, Chair of Communication Networks, University of Tübingen

Professional Activities

Reviewer for the following international journals, magazines, conferences, and workshops:

IEEE Transactions on Cognitive Communications and Networking (2025)
TPC Member of Resilient Networks and Systems (ReNeSys 2025)

List of Publications

Preprint

E. Zink, F. Ihle, and M. Menth. DPDS: A DPDK-Based Packet Delayer and Spacer, under submission (preprint), Jun. 2026

Journal Paper

M. Flüchter, S. Lindner, F. Ihle, T. Eckert, and M. Menth: Extensions to BIER Tree Engineering (BIER-TE) for Large Multicast Domains and 1:1 Protection, Journal of Network and Computer Applications, vol. 253, Sep. 2026, Elsevier
F. Ihle, M. Fluechter, and M. Menth: P4-TAS: P4-Based Time-Aware Shaper for Time-Sensitive Networking, in IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society (OJ-COMS), vol. 7, p. 4389 – 4407, Apr. 2026, IEEE
F. Ihle and M. Menth: MPLS Network Actions: Technological Overview and P4-Based Implementation on a High-Speed Switching ASIC, (erratum, preprint), in IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society, vol. 6, pp. 3480 - 3501, Apr. 2025, IEEE
F. Ihle, S. Lindner and M. Menth: P4-PSFP: P4-Based Per-Stream Filtering and Policing for Time-Sensitive Networking, (preprint), in IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management, Special Issue on Robust and Resilient Future Communication Networks, vol. 21, no. 5, p. 5273 - 5290, Oct. 2024, IEEE

Workshop & Conference Paper

F. Ihle, E. Zink, and M. Menth: Stateless Egress Protection Using MPLS Network Actions: Concept and P4-Based Hardware Implementation, accepted for publication in European P4 Workshop (EuroP4’26), December 2026, Utrecht, Netherlands
F. Ihle, E. Zink, and M. Menth: High-Speed Generation of Periodic Traffic Patterns on P4TG for DDoS and Burst-Load Evaluation, in Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Network Softwarization (NetSoft), June 2026, Berlin, Germany
F. Ihle and M. Menth: Stack Management for MPLS Network Actions: Integration of Nodes with Limited Hardware Capabilities, in ACM/IRTF Applied Networking Research Workshop (ANRW), Jul. 2025, Madrid, Spain
F. Ihle, E. Zink, and M. Menth: Enhancements to P4TG: Histogram-Based RTT Monitoring in the Data Plane, in Workshop on Resilient Networks and Systems ( ReNeSys), Jul. 2025, Ilmenau, Germany
E. Zink, M. Flüchter, S. Lindner, F. Ihle, and M. Menth: Rust Barefoot Runtime (RBFRT): Fast Runtime Control for the Intel Tofino, in KuVS Workshop on Network Softwarization (KuVS NetSoft), Apr. 2025, online
F. Ihle, T. Meuser, M. Menth, and B. Scheuermann: Packet Level Resilience for the User Plane in 5G Networks, in KuVS Workshop on Network Softwarization (KuVS NetSoft), Apr. 2025, online
F. Ihle, E. Zink, S. Lindner, and M. Menth: Enhancements to P4TG: Protocols, Performance, and Automation, in KuVS Workshop on Network Softwarization (KuVS NetSoft), Apr. 2025, online
F. Ihle, M. Flüchter, S. Lindner, and M. Menth: UniCorn-P4: A Universal Control Plane and GUI for P4, in KuVS Fachgespräch - Workshop on Modeling, Analysis and Simulation of Next-Generation Communication Networks (github), Sept. 2024, Würzburg, Germany

Talks

F. Ihle: Discovering MNA Capabilities Using LSP Ping, IETF126 MPLS WG Meeting, Vienna, July 2026.
F. Ihle: Implementation of Periodic Behavior with P4: Challenges and Solutions on Intel Tofino with Application in Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN), P4 Developer Days Webinar, online, Nov. 2025
F. Ihle: Stateless MNA-based Egress Protection (SMEP), IETF123 MPLS WG Meeting, Madrid, July 2025.
F. Ihle: MPLS Network Action for Stack Management, IETF123 MPLS WG Meeting, Madrid, July 2025.
F. Ihle: Signaling MNA Capabilities Using IGP,, IETF123 MPLS WG Meeting, Madrid, July 2025.
F. Ihle: MPLS Network Actions: A Technological Overview (Mini-Tutorial), in KuVS Fachgespräch “Network Softwarization”, online, Apr. 2025
F. Ihle, E. Zink, S. Lindner, and M. Menth: Enhancements to P4TG: Protocols, Performance, and Automation, in KuVS Fachgespräch “Network Softwarization”, online, Apr. 2025
F. Ihle: Implementation Update on P4-MNA using ISD, IETF121 MPLS WG Meeting, Dublin, November 2024.
F. Ihle: Stateless MNA-based Egress Protection (SMEP), IETF121 MPLS WG Meeting, Dublin, November 2024.
F. Ihle: Invited Workshop and Hackathon on Data Plane Programming With P4 (slides, poster), Research School: Building Resilient Worlds—in Career and Research, Berlin, Oct. 2024
F. Ihle: Implementation Experience of MNA Using P4 on Intel Tofino Hardware, IETF MPLS WG Interim Meeting, Online, April 2024.

IETF Internet Drafts

R. Gandhi, T. Zhou, Z. Li, and F. Ihle: Simple Two-Way Active Measurement Protocol (STAMP) Extensions for Reflecting STAMP Packet MPLS Extension Headers, IETF Internet draft, June 2026
F. Ihle, X. Song, and M. Menth: Signaling MNA Capabilities Using LSP Ping, IETF Internet draft, March 2026
F. Ihle and M. Menth: Stateless MNA-based Egress Protection (SMEP), IETF Internet draft, June 2025
F. Ihle, X. Song, and M. Menth: Signaling MNA Capabilities Using IGP, IETF Internet draft, June 2025
F. Ihle and M. Menth: MPLS Network Action for Stack Management, IETF Internet draft, June 2025

Workshops & Outreach

F. Ihle: From Research Labs to Government Networks: The Journey of P4TG, Blog post @P4.org, November 2025
F. Ihle: One Week Workshop on Data Plane Programming with P4, the Intel Tofino, and P4TG, @German Federal Agency for Public Safety Digital Radio (BDBOS), Berlin, Germany, Sep. 2025

Theses

M.Sc.	Implementierung von Per-Stream Filtering and Policing für Time-Sensitive Networking auf einem 100G-fähigen Switch mithilfe von P4, March 2023 (pdf)
B.Sc.	Entwurf und Analyse eines Software-Projektes für das Tübinger Teamprojekt: Implementierung eines DNS Servers, April 2021

Teaching

Courses

Winter Term 2026/2027

Grundlagen des Internets (Supervising)

Summer Term 2026

Network Softwarization (Selected lectures on Data Plane Programming in P4)
Team project: Implementing a DNS Server (Supervising)

Winter Term 2025/2026

Grundlagen des Internets (Supervising)

Summer Term 2025

Network Softwarization (Selected lectures on Data Plane Programming in P4)

Summer Term 2024

Network Softwarization (Selected lectures on Data Plane Programming in P4)
Grundlagen des Internets (Supervising)

Summer Term 2023

Network Softwarization (Selected lectures on Data Plane Programming in P4)

Winter Term 2022/2023

Team project: Implementing a DNS Server (Tutoring)
Grundlagen des Internets (Tutoring)

Summer Term 2022

Team project: Implementing a DNS Server (Tutoring)

Winter Term 2021/2022

Team project: Implementing a DNS Server (Tutoring)

Summer Term 2021

Team project: Implementing a DNS Server (Tutoring)

Summer Term 2020

Grundlagen des Internets (Tutoring)

Summer Term 2019

Grundlagen des Internets (Tutoring)

Supervised Theses and Student Research Projects

Looking for a thesis topic? I supervise B.Sc. and M.Sc. theses on P4 and the Intel Tofino, MPLS Network Actions, Time-Sensitive Networking, and high-speed packet processing with DPDK and Rust. Send me an e-mail with your background and interests.

Ongoing

M.Sc.

Design and Implementation of an Automated TSN Hardware Testbed for Experimentation and Measurement

Concluded

B.Sc.	Overview and Performance Evaluation of Selected Highspeed Packet Processing Technologies on Linux for x86 Architectures
B.Sc.	Erweiterung des Verkehrsgenerators P4TG um automatisierte Testverfahren und Datenexport sowie Verbesserung der User Experience
B.Sc.	Konzeption und Erstellung einer Benutzerschnittstelle für den Rust-basierten Controller von P4-TAS und P4-PSFP in Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN)
M.Sc.	Implementation and Performance Evaluation of Snabb-Based Service Functions to Provide Externs in P4-Based Network Softwarization
M.Sc.	Development of a Snabb-Based Prototype for Packet-Based Hybrid Access and Performance Evaluation of Load Balancing Algorithms in Multi-Gigabit Networks
M.Sc.	High Performance Path Verification: Design, Implementation and Evaluation of an MNA-based Proof-of-Transit Framework using Rust and DPDK

Project Work

MOCCA

Mastering Offloading and Correlated failures for resilient CommunicAtion networks

In this project, the resilience of communication infrastructures will be improved. We facilitate the implementation of advanced resilience mechanisms by offloading using efficient packet processing frameworks (EPPFs). We also design networks such that they can better survive correlated failures.

https://www.resilient-worlds.org

ReCoPro

Resilient Communication with Programmable Hardware

Resilience is needed as the core property of the network infrastructure, from the Internet to the internet of things (IoT), from connected cars to complex cyber-physical systems (CPS) and resilience will be a primary research objective for the coming years. We expect that modern communication networks can deal with unknown and unforeseen events, both from within the network as well as from external sources. This requires a holistic view of the resilience problem, leading to appropriate and easy-to-handle solutions. Resilience evidently cuts through several thematic areas, such as information and network security, fault tolerance, software and hardware dependability, and network survivability.

https://www.resilient-worlds.org