About CNI chaining

CNI plugin chaining allows pods to use multiple network interfaces. This enables advanced configurations such as traffic isolation and prioritized routing through granular traffic policies.

By using CNI plugin chaining, different types of traffic can be isolated to meet performance, security, and compliance requirements, providing greater flexibility in network design and traffic management.

Some scenarios where this might be useful include:

  • Multi-Network topologies: Enables you to attach pods to multiple networks, each with its own traffic policy, where relevant.

  • Traffic isolation: Provides separate networks for management, storage, and application traffic to ensure each has the appropriate security and QoS settings.

  • Custom routing rules: Ensures that specific traffic, for example SIP traffic, always uses a designated network interface, while other traffic follows the default network.

  • Enhanced network performance: Allows you to prioritize certain traffic types or manage congestion by directing them through dedicated network interfaces.