Use PacketBuffers for outgoing packets.

PiperOrigin-RevId: 280455453

9 files changed, 147 insertions, 115 deletions

diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/network/arp/arp.go b/pkg/tcpip/network/arp/arp.go
index 0ee509ebe..30aec9ba7 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/network/arp/arp.go
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/network/arp/arp.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) MaxHeaderLength() uint16 {
 
 func (e *endpoint) Close() {}
 
-func (e *endpoint) WritePacket(*stack.Route, *stack.GSO, buffer.Prependable, buffer.VectorisedView, stack.NetworkHeaderParams, stack.PacketLooping) *tcpip.Error {
+func (e *endpoint) WritePacket(*stack.Route, *stack.GSO, stack.NetworkHeaderParams, stack.PacketLooping, tcpip.PacketBuffer) *tcpip.Error {
 	return tcpip.ErrNotSupported
 }
 
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) WritePackets(*stack.Route, *stack.GSO, []stack.PacketDescript
 	return 0, tcpip.ErrNotSupported
 }
 
-func (e *endpoint) WriteHeaderIncludedPacket(r *stack.Route, payload buffer.VectorisedView, loop stack.PacketLooping) *tcpip.Error {
+func (e *endpoint) WriteHeaderIncludedPacket(r *stack.Route, loop stack.PacketLooping, pkt tcpip.PacketBuffer) *tcpip.Error {
 	return tcpip.ErrNotSupported
 }
 
@@ -106,14 +106,16 @@ func (e *endpoint) HandlePacket(r *stack.Route, pkt tcpip.PacketBuffer) {
 			return // we have no useful answer, ignore the request
 		}
 		hdr := buffer.NewPrependable(int(e.linkEP.MaxHeaderLength()) + header.ARPSize)
-		pkt := header.ARP(hdr.Prepend(header.ARPSize))
-		pkt.SetIPv4OverEthernet()
-		pkt.SetOp(header.ARPReply)
-		copy(pkt.HardwareAddressSender(), r.LocalLinkAddress[:])
-		copy(pkt.ProtocolAddressSender(), h.ProtocolAddressTarget())
-		copy(pkt.HardwareAddressTarget(), h.HardwareAddressSender())
-		copy(pkt.ProtocolAddressTarget(), h.ProtocolAddressSender())
-		e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, nil /* gso */, hdr, buffer.VectorisedView{}, ProtocolNumber)
+		packet := header.ARP(hdr.Prepend(header.ARPSize))
+		packet.SetIPv4OverEthernet()
+		packet.SetOp(header.ARPReply)
+		copy(packet.HardwareAddressSender(), r.LocalLinkAddress[:])
+		copy(packet.ProtocolAddressSender(), h.ProtocolAddressTarget())
+		copy(packet.HardwareAddressTarget(), h.HardwareAddressSender())
+		copy(packet.ProtocolAddressTarget(), h.ProtocolAddressSender())
+		e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, nil /* gso */, ProtocolNumber, tcpip.PacketBuffer{
+			Header: hdr,
+		})
 		fallthrough // also fill the cache from requests
 	case header.ARPReply:
 		addr := tcpip.Address(h.ProtocolAddressSender())
@@ -165,7 +167,9 @@ func (*protocol) LinkAddressRequest(addr, localAddr tcpip.Address, linkEP stack.
 	copy(h.ProtocolAddressSender(), localAddr)
 	copy(h.ProtocolAddressTarget(), addr)
 
-	return linkEP.WritePacket(r, nil /* gso */, hdr, buffer.VectorisedView{}, ProtocolNumber)
+	return linkEP.WritePacket(r, nil /* gso */, ProtocolNumber, tcpip.PacketBuffer{
+		Header: hdr,
+	})
 }
 
 // ResolveStaticAddress implements stack.LinkAddressResolver.
diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/network/arp/arp_test.go b/pkg/tcpip/network/arp/arp_test.go
index 47098bfdc..8e6048a21 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/network/arp/arp_test.go
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/network/arp/arp_test.go
@@ -110,13 +110,13 @@ func TestDirectRequest(t *testing.T) {
 	for i, address := range []tcpip.Address{stackAddr1, stackAddr2} {
 		t.Run(strconv.Itoa(i), func(t *testing.T) {
 			inject(address)
-			pkt := <-c.linkEP.C
-			if pkt.Proto != arp.ProtocolNumber {
-				t.Fatalf("expected ARP response, got network protocol number %d", pkt.Proto)
+			pi := <-c.linkEP.C
+			if pi.Proto != arp.ProtocolNumber {
+				t.Fatalf("expected ARP response, got network protocol number %d", pi.Proto)
 			}
-			rep := header.ARP(pkt.Header)
+			rep := header.ARP(pi.Pkt.Header.View())
 			if !rep.IsValid() {
-				t.Fatalf("invalid ARP response len(pkt.Header)=%d", len(pkt.Header))
+				t.Fatalf("invalid ARP response pi.Pkt.Header.UsedLength()=%d", pi.Pkt.Header.UsedLength())
 			}
 			if got, want := tcpip.LinkAddress(rep.HardwareAddressSender()), stackLinkAddr; got != want {
 				t.Errorf("got HardwareAddressSender = %s, want = %s", got, want)
diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/network/ip_test.go b/pkg/tcpip/network/ip_test.go
index fe499d47e..1de188738 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/network/ip_test.go
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/network/ip_test.go
@@ -150,24 +150,24 @@ func (*testObject) Wait() {}
 // WritePacket is called by network endpoints after producing a packet and
 // writing it to the link endpoint. This is used by the test object to verify
 // that the produced packet is as expected.
-func (t *testObject) WritePacket(_ *stack.Route, _ *stack.GSO, hdr buffer.Prependable, payload buffer.VectorisedView, protocol tcpip.NetworkProtocolNumber) *tcpip.Error {
+func (t *testObject) WritePacket(_ *stack.Route, _ *stack.GSO, protocol tcpip.NetworkProtocolNumber, pkt tcpip.PacketBuffer) *tcpip.Error {
 	var prot tcpip.TransportProtocolNumber
 	var srcAddr tcpip.Address
 	var dstAddr tcpip.Address
 
 	if t.v4 {
-		h := header.IPv4(hdr.View())
+		h := header.IPv4(pkt.Header.View())
 		prot = tcpip.TransportProtocolNumber(h.Protocol())
 		srcAddr = h.SourceAddress()
 		dstAddr = h.DestinationAddress()
 
 	} else {
-		h := header.IPv6(hdr.View())
+		h := header.IPv6(pkt.Header.View())
 		prot = tcpip.TransportProtocolNumber(h.NextHeader())
 		srcAddr = h.SourceAddress()
 		dstAddr = h.DestinationAddress()
 	}
-	t.checkValues(prot, payload, srcAddr, dstAddr)
+	t.checkValues(prot, pkt.Data, srcAddr, dstAddr)
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -239,7 +239,10 @@ func TestIPv4Send(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("could not find route: %v", err)
 	}
-	if err := ep.WritePacket(&r, nil /* gso */, hdr, payload.ToVectorisedView(), stack.NetworkHeaderParams{Protocol: 123, TTL: 123, TOS: stack.DefaultTOS}, stack.PacketOut); err != nil {
+	if err := ep.WritePacket(&r, nil /* gso */, stack.NetworkHeaderParams{Protocol: 123, TTL: 123, TOS: stack.DefaultTOS}, stack.PacketOut, tcpip.PacketBuffer{
+		Header: hdr,
+		Data:   payload.ToVectorisedView(),
+	}); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("WritePacket failed: %v", err)
 	}
 }
@@ -477,7 +480,10 @@ func TestIPv6Send(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("could not find route: %v", err)
 	}
-	if err := ep.WritePacket(&r, nil /* gso */, hdr, payload.ToVectorisedView(), stack.NetworkHeaderParams{Protocol: 123, TTL: 123, TOS: stack.DefaultTOS}, stack.PacketOut); err != nil {
+	if err := ep.WritePacket(&r, nil /* gso */, stack.NetworkHeaderParams{Protocol: 123, TTL: 123, TOS: stack.DefaultTOS}, stack.PacketOut, tcpip.PacketBuffer{
+		Header: hdr,
+		Data:   payload.ToVectorisedView(),
+	}); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("WritePacket failed: %v", err)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/icmp.go b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/icmp.go
index ce771631c..32bf39e43 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/icmp.go
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/icmp.go
@@ -99,7 +99,11 @@ func (e *endpoint) handleICMP(r *stack.Route, pkt tcpip.PacketBuffer) {
 		pkt.SetChecksum(0)
 		pkt.SetChecksum(^header.Checksum(pkt, header.ChecksumVV(vv, 0)))
 		sent := stats.ICMP.V4PacketsSent
-		if err := r.WritePacket(nil /* gso */, hdr, vv, stack.NetworkHeaderParams{Protocol: header.ICMPv4ProtocolNumber, TTL: r.DefaultTTL(), TOS: stack.DefaultTOS}); err != nil {
+		if err := r.WritePacket(nil /* gso */, stack.NetworkHeaderParams{Protocol: header.ICMPv4ProtocolNumber, TTL: r.DefaultTTL(), TOS: stack.DefaultTOS}, tcpip.PacketBuffer{
+			Header:          hdr,
+			Data:            vv,
+			TransportHeader: buffer.View(pkt),
+		}); err != nil {
 			sent.Dropped.Increment()
 			return
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/ipv4.go b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/ipv4.go
index ac16c8add..040329a74 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/ipv4.go
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/ipv4.go
@@ -117,13 +117,14 @@ func (e *endpoint) GSOMaxSize() uint32 {
 }
 
 // writePacketFragments calls e.linkEP.WritePacket with each packet fragment to
-// write. It assumes that the IP header is entirely in hdr but does not assume
-// that only the IP header is in hdr. It assumes that the input packet's stated
-// length matches the length of the hdr+payload. mtu includes the IP header and
-// options. This does not support the DontFragment IP flag.
-func (e *endpoint) writePacketFragments(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, hdr buffer.Prependable, payload buffer.VectorisedView, mtu int) *tcpip.Error {
+// write. It assumes that the IP header is entirely in pkt.Header but does not
+// assume that only the IP header is in pkt.Header. It assumes that the input
+// packet's stated length matches the length of the header+payload. mtu
+// includes the IP header and options. This does not support the DontFragment
+// IP flag.
+func (e *endpoint) writePacketFragments(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, mtu int, pkt tcpip.PacketBuffer) *tcpip.Error {
 	// This packet is too big, it needs to be fragmented.
-	ip := header.IPv4(hdr.View())
+	ip := header.IPv4(pkt.Header.View())
 	flags := ip.Flags()
 
 	// Update mtu to take into account the header, which will exist in all
@@ -137,62 +138,77 @@ func (e *endpoint) writePacketFragments(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, hdr buff
 
 	outerMTU := innerMTU + int(ip.HeaderLength())
 	offset := ip.FragmentOffset()
-	originalAvailableLength := hdr.AvailableLength()
+	originalAvailableLength := pkt.Header.AvailableLength()
 	for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
 		// Where possible, the first fragment that is sent has the same
-		// hdr.UsedLength() as the input packet. The link-layer endpoint may depends
-		// on this for looking at, eg, L4 headers.
+		// pkt.Header.UsedLength() as the input packet. The link-layer
+		// endpoint may depend on this for looking at, eg, L4 headers.
 		h := ip
 		if i > 0 {
-			hdr = buffer.NewPrependable(int(ip.HeaderLength()) + originalAvailableLength)
-			h = header.IPv4(hdr.Prepend(int(ip.HeaderLength())))
+			pkt.Header = buffer.NewPrependable(int(ip.HeaderLength()) + originalAvailableLength)
+			h = header.IPv4(pkt.Header.Prepend(int(ip.HeaderLength())))
 			copy(h, ip[:ip.HeaderLength()])
 		}
 		if i != n-1 {
 			h.SetTotalLength(uint16(outerMTU))
 			h.SetFlagsFragmentOffset(flags|header.IPv4FlagMoreFragments, offset)
 		} else {
-			h.SetTotalLength(uint16(h.HeaderLength()) + uint16(payload.Size()))
+			h.SetTotalLength(uint16(h.HeaderLength()) + uint16(pkt.Data.Size()))
 			h.SetFlagsFragmentOffset(flags, offset)
 		}
 		h.SetChecksum(0)
 		h.SetChecksum(^h.CalculateChecksum())
 		offset += uint16(innerMTU)
 		if i > 0 {
-			newPayload := payload.Clone([]buffer.View{})
+			newPayload := pkt.Data.Clone(nil)
 			newPayload.CapLength(innerMTU)
-			if err := e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, gso, hdr, newPayload, ProtocolNumber); err != nil {
+			if err := e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, gso, ProtocolNumber, tcpip.PacketBuffer{
+				Header:        pkt.Header,
+				Data:          newPayload,
+				NetworkHeader: buffer.View(h),
+			}); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 			r.Stats().IP.PacketsSent.Increment()
-			payload.TrimFront(newPayload.Size())
+			pkt.Data.TrimFront(newPayload.Size())
 			continue
 		}
-		// Special handling for the first fragment because it comes from the hdr.
-		if outerMTU >= hdr.UsedLength() {
-			// This fragment can fit all of hdr and possibly some of payload, too.
-			newPayload := payload.Clone([]buffer.View{})
-			newPayloadLength := outerMTU - hdr.UsedLength()
+		// Special handling for the first fragment because it comes
+		// from the header.
+		if outerMTU >= pkt.Header.UsedLength() {
+			// This fragment can fit all of pkt.Header and possibly
+			// some of pkt.Data, too.
+			newPayload := pkt.Data.Clone(nil)
+			newPayloadLength := outerMTU - pkt.Header.UsedLength()
 			newPayload.CapLength(newPayloadLength)
-			if err := e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, gso, hdr, newPayload, ProtocolNumber); err != nil {
+			if err := e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, gso, ProtocolNumber, tcpip.PacketBuffer{
+				Header:        pkt.Header,
+				Data:          newPayload,
+				NetworkHeader: buffer.View(h),
+			}); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 			r.Stats().IP.PacketsSent.Increment()
-			payload.TrimFront(newPayloadLength)
+			pkt.Data.TrimFront(newPayloadLength)
 		} else {
-			// The fragment is too small to fit all of hdr.
-			startOfHdr := hdr
-			startOfHdr.TrimBack(hdr.UsedLength() - outerMTU)
+			// The fragment is too small to fit all of pkt.Header.
+			startOfHdr := pkt.Header
+			startOfHdr.TrimBack(pkt.Header.UsedLength() - outerMTU)
 			emptyVV := buffer.NewVectorisedView(0, []buffer.View{})
-			if err := e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, gso, startOfHdr, emptyVV, ProtocolNumber); err != nil {
+			if err := e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, gso, ProtocolNumber, tcpip.PacketBuffer{
+				Header:        startOfHdr,
+				Data:          emptyVV,
+				NetworkHeader: buffer.View(h),
+			}); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 			r.Stats().IP.PacketsSent.Increment()
-			// Add the unused bytes of hdr into the payload that remains to be sent.
-			restOfHdr := hdr.View()[outerMTU:]
+			// Add the unused bytes of pkt.Header into the pkt.Data
+			// that remains to be sent.
+			restOfHdr := pkt.Header.View()[outerMTU:]
 			tmp := buffer.NewVectorisedView(len(restOfHdr), []buffer.View{buffer.NewViewFromBytes(restOfHdr)})
-			tmp.Append(payload)
-			payload = tmp
+			tmp.Append(pkt.Data)
+			pkt.Data = tmp
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -222,17 +238,17 @@ func (e *endpoint) addIPHeader(r *stack.Route, hdr *buffer.Prependable, payloadS
 }
 
 // WritePacket writes a packet to the given destination address and protocol.
-func (e *endpoint) WritePacket(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, hdr buffer.Prependable, payload buffer.VectorisedView, params stack.NetworkHeaderParams, loop stack.PacketLooping) *tcpip.Error {
-	ip := e.addIPHeader(r, &hdr, payload.Size(), params)
+func (e *endpoint) WritePacket(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, params stack.NetworkHeaderParams, loop stack.PacketLooping, pkt tcpip.PacketBuffer) *tcpip.Error {
+	ip := e.addIPHeader(r, &pkt.Header, pkt.Data.Size(), params)
 
 	if loop&stack.PacketLoop != 0 {
-		views := make([]buffer.View, 1, 1+len(payload.Views()))
-		views[0] = hdr.View()
-		views = append(views, payload.Views()...)
+		views := make([]buffer.View, 1, 1+len(pkt.Data.Views()))
+		views[0] = pkt.Header.View()
+		views = append(views, pkt.Data.Views()...)
 		loopedR := r.MakeLoopedRoute()
 
 		e.HandlePacket(&loopedR, tcpip.PacketBuffer{
-			Data:          buffer.NewVectorisedView(len(views[0])+payload.Size(), views),
+			Data:          buffer.NewVectorisedView(len(views[0])+pkt.Data.Size(), views),
 			NetworkHeader: buffer.View(ip),
 		})
 
@@ -241,10 +257,10 @@ func (e *endpoint) WritePacket(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, hdr buffer.Prepen
 	if loop&stack.PacketOut == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
-	if hdr.UsedLength()+payload.Size() > int(e.linkEP.MTU()) && (gso == nil || gso.Type == stack.GSONone) {
-		return e.writePacketFragments(r, gso, hdr, payload, int(e.linkEP.MTU()))
+	if pkt.Header.UsedLength()+pkt.Data.Size() > int(e.linkEP.MTU()) && (gso == nil || gso.Type == stack.GSONone) {
+		return e.writePacketFragments(r, gso, int(e.linkEP.MTU()), pkt)
 	}
-	if err := e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, gso, hdr, payload, ProtocolNumber); err != nil {
+	if err := e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, gso, ProtocolNumber, pkt); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	r.Stats().IP.PacketsSent.Increment()
@@ -270,16 +286,16 @@ func (e *endpoint) WritePackets(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, hdrs []stack.Pac
 
 // WriteHeaderIncludedPacket writes a packet already containing a network
 // header through the given route.
-func (e *endpoint) WriteHeaderIncludedPacket(r *stack.Route, payload buffer.VectorisedView, loop stack.PacketLooping) *tcpip.Error {
+func (e *endpoint) WriteHeaderIncludedPacket(r *stack.Route, loop stack.PacketLooping, pkt tcpip.PacketBuffer) *tcpip.Error {
 	// The packet already has an IP header, but there are a few required
 	// checks.
-	ip := header.IPv4(payload.First())
-	if !ip.IsValid(payload.Size()) {
+	ip := header.IPv4(pkt.Data.First())
+	if !ip.IsValid(pkt.Data.Size()) {
 		return tcpip.ErrInvalidOptionValue
 	}
 
 	// Always set the total length.
-	ip.SetTotalLength(uint16(payload.Size()))
+	ip.SetTotalLength(uint16(pkt.Data.Size()))
 
 	// Set the source address when zero.
 	if ip.SourceAddress() == tcpip.Address(([]byte{0, 0, 0, 0})) {
@@ -293,7 +309,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) WriteHeaderIncludedPacket(r *stack.Route, payload buffer.Vect
 	// Set the packet ID when zero.
 	if ip.ID() == 0 {
 		id := uint32(0)
-		if payload.Size() > header.IPv4MaximumHeaderSize+8 {
+		if pkt.Data.Size() > header.IPv4MaximumHeaderSize+8 {
 			// Packets of 68 bytes or less are required by RFC 791 to not be
 			// fragmented, so we only assign ids to larger packets.
 			id = atomic.AddUint32(&e.protocol.ids[hashRoute(r, 0 /* protocol */, e.protocol.hashIV)%buckets], 1)
@@ -306,18 +322,18 @@ func (e *endpoint) WriteHeaderIncludedPacket(r *stack.Route, payload buffer.Vect
 	ip.SetChecksum(^ip.CalculateChecksum())
 
 	if loop&stack.PacketLoop != 0 {
-		e.HandlePacket(r, tcpip.PacketBuffer{
-			Data:          payload,
-			NetworkHeader: buffer.View(ip),
-		})
+		e.HandlePacket(r, pkt.Clone())
 	}
 	if loop&stack.PacketOut == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	hdr := buffer.NewPrependableFromView(payload.ToView())
 	r.Stats().IP.PacketsSent.Increment()
-	return e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, nil /* gso */, hdr, buffer.VectorisedView{}, ProtocolNumber)
+
+	ip = ip[:ip.HeaderLength()]
+	pkt.Header = buffer.NewPrependableFromView(buffer.View(ip))
+	pkt.Data.TrimFront(int(ip.HeaderLength()))
+	return e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, nil /* gso */, ProtocolNumber, pkt)
 }
 
 // HandlePacket is called by the link layer when new ipv4 packets arrive for
diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/ipv4_test.go b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/ipv4_test.go
index 01dfb5f20..e900f1b45 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/ipv4_test.go
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/ipv4_test.go
@@ -113,12 +113,12 @@ func makeHdrAndPayload(hdrLength int, extraLength int, viewSizes []int) (buffer.
 
 // comparePayloads compared the contents of all the packets against the contents
 // of the source packet.
-func compareFragments(t *testing.T, packets []packetInfo, sourcePacketInfo packetInfo, mtu uint32) {
+func compareFragments(t *testing.T, packets []tcpip.PacketBuffer, sourcePacketInfo tcpip.PacketBuffer, mtu uint32) {
 	t.Helper()
 	// Make a complete array of the sourcePacketInfo packet.
 	source := header.IPv4(packets[0].Header.View()[:header.IPv4MinimumSize])
 	source = append(source, sourcePacketInfo.Header.View()...)
-	source = append(source, sourcePacketInfo.Payload.ToView()...)
+	source = append(source, sourcePacketInfo.Data.ToView()...)
 
 	// Make a copy of the IP header, which will be modified in some fields to make
 	// an expected header.
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ func compareFragments(t *testing.T, packets []packetInfo, sourcePacketInfo packe
 	for i, packet := range packets {
 		// Confirm that the packet is valid.
 		allBytes := packet.Header.View().ToVectorisedView()
-		allBytes.Append(packet.Payload)
+		allBytes.Append(packet.Data)
 		ip := header.IPv4(allBytes.ToView())
 		if !ip.IsValid(len(ip)) {
 			t.Errorf("IP packet is invalid:\n%s", hex.Dump(ip))
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ func compareFragments(t *testing.T, packets []packetInfo, sourcePacketInfo packe
 
 type errorChannel struct {
 	*channel.Endpoint
-	Ch                    chan packetInfo
+	Ch                    chan tcpip.PacketBuffer
 	packetCollectorErrors []*tcpip.Error
 }
 
@@ -183,17 +183,11 @@ type errorChannel struct {
 func newErrorChannel(size int, mtu uint32, linkAddr tcpip.LinkAddress, packetCollectorErrors []*tcpip.Error) *errorChannel {
 	return &errorChannel{
 		Endpoint:              channel.New(size, mtu, linkAddr),
-		Ch:                    make(chan packetInfo, size),
+		Ch:                    make(chan tcpip.PacketBuffer, size),
 		packetCollectorErrors: packetCollectorErrors,
 	}
 }
 
-// packetInfo holds all the information about an outbound packet.
-type packetInfo struct {
-	Header  buffer.Prependable
-	Payload buffer.VectorisedView
-}
-
 // Drain removes all outbound packets from the channel and counts them.
 func (e *errorChannel) Drain() int {
 	c := 0
@@ -208,14 +202,9 @@ func (e *errorChannel) Drain() int {
 }
 
 // WritePacket stores outbound packets into the channel.
-func (e *errorChannel) WritePacket(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, hdr buffer.Prependable, payload buffer.VectorisedView, protocol tcpip.NetworkProtocolNumber) *tcpip.Error {
-	p := packetInfo{
-		Header:  hdr,
-		Payload: payload,
-	}
-
+func (e *errorChannel) WritePacket(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, protocol tcpip.NetworkProtocolNumber, pkt tcpip.PacketBuffer) *tcpip.Error {
 	select {
-	case e.Ch <- p:
+	case e.Ch <- pkt:
 	default:
 	}
 
@@ -292,18 +281,21 @@ func TestFragmentation(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, ft := range fragTests {
 		t.Run(ft.description, func(t *testing.T) {
 			hdr, payload := makeHdrAndPayload(ft.hdrLength, ft.extraLength, ft.payloadViewsSizes)
-			source := packetInfo{
+			source := tcpip.PacketBuffer{
 				Header: hdr,
 				// Save the source payload because WritePacket will modify it.
-				Payload: payload.Clone([]buffer.View{}),
+				Data: payload.Clone(nil),
 			}
 			c := buildContext(t, nil, ft.mtu)
-			err := c.Route.WritePacket(ft.gso, hdr, payload, stack.NetworkHeaderParams{Protocol: tcp.ProtocolNumber, TTL: 42, TOS: stack.DefaultTOS})
+			err := c.Route.WritePacket(ft.gso, stack.NetworkHeaderParams{Protocol: tcp.ProtocolNumber, TTL: 42, TOS: stack.DefaultTOS}, tcpip.PacketBuffer{
+				Header: hdr,
+				Data:   payload,
+			})
 			if err != nil {
 				t.Errorf("err got %v, want %v", err, nil)
 			}
 
-			var results []packetInfo
+			var results []tcpip.PacketBuffer
 		L:
 			for {
 				select {
@@ -345,7 +337,10 @@ func TestFragmentationErrors(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run(ft.description, func(t *testing.T) {
 			hdr, payload := makeHdrAndPayload(ft.hdrLength, header.IPv4MinimumSize, ft.payloadViewsSizes)
 			c := buildContext(t, ft.packetCollectorErrors, ft.mtu)
-			err := c.Route.WritePacket(&stack.GSO{}, hdr, payload, stack.NetworkHeaderParams{Protocol: tcp.ProtocolNumber, TTL: 42, TOS: stack.DefaultTOS})
+			err := c.Route.WritePacket(&stack.GSO{}, stack.NetworkHeaderParams{Protocol: tcp.ProtocolNumber, TTL: 42, TOS: stack.DefaultTOS}, tcpip.PacketBuffer{
+				Header: hdr,
+				Data:   payload,
+			})
 			for i := 0; i < len(ft.packetCollectorErrors)-1; i++ {
 				if got, want := ft.packetCollectorErrors[i], (*tcpip.Error)(nil); got != want {
 					t.Errorf("ft.packetCollectorErrors[%d] got %v, want %v", i, got, want)
diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/icmp.go b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/icmp.go
index 6629951c6..1c3410618 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/icmp.go
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/icmp.go
@@ -226,7 +226,9 @@ func (e *endpoint) handleICMP(r *stack.Route, netHeader buffer.View, pkt tcpip.P
 		//
 		// The IP Hop Limit field has a value of 255, i.e., the packet
 		// could not possibly have been forwarded by a router.
-		if err := r.WritePacket(nil /* gso */, hdr, buffer.VectorisedView{}, stack.NetworkHeaderParams{Protocol: header.ICMPv6ProtocolNumber, TTL: header.NDPHopLimit, TOS: stack.DefaultTOS}); err != nil {
+		if err := r.WritePacket(nil /* gso */, stack.NetworkHeaderParams{Protocol: header.ICMPv6ProtocolNumber, TTL: header.NDPHopLimit, TOS: stack.DefaultTOS}, tcpip.PacketBuffer{
+			Header: hdr,
+		}); err != nil {
 			sent.Dropped.Increment()
 			return
 		}
@@ -291,7 +293,10 @@ func (e *endpoint) handleICMP(r *stack.Route, netHeader buffer.View, pkt tcpip.P
 		copy(packet, h)
 		packet.SetType(header.ICMPv6EchoReply)
 		packet.SetChecksum(header.ICMPv6Checksum(packet, r.LocalAddress, r.RemoteAddress, pkt.Data))
-		if err := r.WritePacket(nil /* gso */, hdr, pkt.Data, stack.NetworkHeaderParams{Protocol: header.ICMPv6ProtocolNumber, TTL: r.DefaultTTL(), TOS: stack.DefaultTOS}); err != nil {
+		if err := r.WritePacket(nil /* gso */, stack.NetworkHeaderParams{Protocol: header.ICMPv6ProtocolNumber, TTL: r.DefaultTTL(), TOS: stack.DefaultTOS}, tcpip.PacketBuffer{
+			Header: hdr,
+			Data:   pkt.Data,
+		}); err != nil {
 			sent.Dropped.Increment()
 			return
 		}
@@ -417,7 +422,9 @@ func (*protocol) LinkAddressRequest(addr, localAddr tcpip.Address, linkEP stack.
 	})
 
 	// TODO(stijlist): count this in ICMP stats.
-	return linkEP.WritePacket(r, nil /* gso */, hdr, buffer.VectorisedView{}, ProtocolNumber)
+	return linkEP.WritePacket(r, nil /* gso */, ProtocolNumber, tcpip.PacketBuffer{
+		Header: hdr,
+	})
 }
 
 // ResolveStaticAddress implements stack.LinkAddressResolver.
diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/icmp_test.go b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/icmp_test.go
index 6037a1ef8..335f634d5 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/icmp_test.go
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/icmp_test.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func (*stubLinkEndpoint) LinkAddress() tcpip.LinkAddress {
 	return ""
 }
 
-func (*stubLinkEndpoint) WritePacket(*stack.Route, *stack.GSO, buffer.Prependable, buffer.VectorisedView, tcpip.NetworkProtocolNumber) *tcpip.Error {
+func (*stubLinkEndpoint) WritePacket(*stack.Route, *stack.GSO, tcpip.NetworkProtocolNumber, tcpip.PacketBuffer) *tcpip.Error {
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -276,22 +276,22 @@ type routeArgs struct {
 func routeICMPv6Packet(t *testing.T, args routeArgs, fn func(*testing.T, header.ICMPv6)) {
 	t.Helper()
 
-	pkt := <-args.src.C
+	pi := <-args.src.C
 
 	{
-		views := []buffer.View{pkt.Header, pkt.Payload}
-		size := len(pkt.Header) + len(pkt.Payload)
+		views := []buffer.View{pi.Pkt.Header.View(), pi.Pkt.Data.ToView()}
+		size := pi.Pkt.Header.UsedLength() + pi.Pkt.Data.Size()
 		vv := buffer.NewVectorisedView(size, views)
-		args.dst.InjectLinkAddr(pkt.Proto, args.dst.LinkAddress(), tcpip.PacketBuffer{
+		args.dst.InjectLinkAddr(pi.Proto, args.dst.LinkAddress(), tcpip.PacketBuffer{
 			Data: vv,
 		})
 	}
 
-	if pkt.Proto != ProtocolNumber {
-		t.Errorf("unexpected protocol number %d", pkt.Proto)
+	if pi.Proto != ProtocolNumber {
+		t.Errorf("unexpected protocol number %d", pi.Proto)
 		return
 	}
-	ipv6 := header.IPv6(pkt.Header)
+	ipv6 := header.IPv6(pi.Pkt.Header.View())
 	transProto := tcpip.TransportProtocolNumber(ipv6.NextHeader())
 	if transProto != header.ICMPv6ProtocolNumber {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected transport protocol number %d", transProto)
diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/ipv6.go b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/ipv6.go
index 4cee848a1..8d1578ed9 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/ipv6.go
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/ipv6.go
@@ -112,17 +112,17 @@ func (e *endpoint) addIPHeader(r *stack.Route, hdr *buffer.Prependable, payloadS
 }
 
 // WritePacket writes a packet to the given destination address and protocol.
-func (e *endpoint) WritePacket(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, hdr buffer.Prependable, payload buffer.VectorisedView, params stack.NetworkHeaderParams, loop stack.PacketLooping) *tcpip.Error {
-	ip := e.addIPHeader(r, &hdr, payload.Size(), params)
+func (e *endpoint) WritePacket(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, params stack.NetworkHeaderParams, loop stack.PacketLooping, pkt tcpip.PacketBuffer) *tcpip.Error {
+	ip := e.addIPHeader(r, &pkt.Header, pkt.Data.Size(), params)
 
 	if loop&stack.PacketLoop != 0 {
-		views := make([]buffer.View, 1, 1+len(payload.Views()))
-		views[0] = hdr.View()
-		views = append(views, payload.Views()...)
+		views := make([]buffer.View, 1, 1+len(pkt.Data.Views()))
+		views[0] = pkt.Header.View()
+		views = append(views, pkt.Data.Views()...)
 		loopedR := r.MakeLoopedRoute()
 
 		e.HandlePacket(&loopedR, tcpip.PacketBuffer{
-			Data:          buffer.NewVectorisedView(len(views[0])+payload.Size(), views),
+			Data:          buffer.NewVectorisedView(len(views[0])+pkt.Data.Size(), views),
 			NetworkHeader: buffer.View(ip),
 		})
 
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) WritePacket(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, hdr buffer.Prepen
 	}
 
 	r.Stats().IP.PacketsSent.Increment()
-	return e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, gso, hdr, payload, ProtocolNumber)
+	return e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, gso, ProtocolNumber, pkt)
 }
 
 // WritePackets implements stack.LinkEndpoint.WritePackets.
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) WritePackets(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, hdrs []stack.Pac
 
 // WriteHeaderIncludedPacker implements stack.NetworkEndpoint. It is not yet
 // supported by IPv6.
-func (*endpoint) WriteHeaderIncludedPacket(r *stack.Route, payload buffer.VectorisedView, loop stack.PacketLooping) *tcpip.Error {
+func (*endpoint) WriteHeaderIncludedPacket(r *stack.Route, loop stack.PacketLooping, pkt tcpip.PacketBuffer) *tcpip.Error {
 	// TODO(b/119580726): Support IPv6 header-included packets.
 	return tcpip.ErrNotSupported
 }