[PATCHv5 iproute2 net-next 0/2] libnetlink: malloc correct buff at run time

[PATCHv5 iproute2 net-next 0/2] libnetlink: malloc correct buff at run time

[Hangbin Liu]

With commit 72b365e8e0fd ("libnetlink: Double the dump buffer size") and
460c03f3f3cc ("iplink: double the buffer size also in iplink_get()"), we
extend the buffer size to avoid truncated message with large numbers of
VFs. But just as Michal said, this is not future-proof since the NIC
number is increasing. We have customer even has 220+ VFs now.

This is not make sense to hard code the buffer and increase it all the time.
So let's just malloc the correct buff size at run time.

Tested with most ip cmds and all look good.
---
v4 -> v5:
* Fix ip/ipl2tp.c and ip/iplink.c context conflicts on latest net-next

v3 -> v4:
* rtnl_recvmsg():
  * As Michal suggested, use zero iov len at the first time to avoid
    copy same data from kernel to userspace.
  * As Stephen suggested, remove loops via goto to make the logic more clear.
* With Phil's help, add __rtnl_recvmsg() to reduce duplicate code.

v2 -> v3:
* rtnl_recvmsg():
  * free buf before each return.
  * return errno when recvmsg failed.

v1 -> v2 by Phil:
* rtnl_recvmsg():
  * Rename output buffer pointer arg to 'answer'.
  * Use realloc() and make sure old buffer is freed on error.
  * Always return a newly allocated buffer for caller to free.
  * Retry on EINTR or EAGAIN so caller doesn't have to.
  * Return well-known negative error codes instead of just -1 on error.
  * Simplify goto label names.
  * If no answer pointer was passed, just free the buffer.
* rtnl_dump_filter_l():
  * Don't retry if rtnl_recvmsg() returns 0 as this can't happen
    anymore.
  * Free buffer returned by rtnl_recvmsg().
* __rtnl_talk():
  * Don't retry if rtnl_recvmsg() returns 0 as this can't happen
    anymore.
  * Free buffer returned by rtnl_recvmsg().
  * Return a newly allocated buffer for callers to free.
* genl_ctrl_resolve_family()
  * Replace 'ghdr + GENL_HDRLEN' to 'answer + NLMSG_LENGTH(GENL_HDRLEN)'
* tc_action_gd()
  * Call print_action() only if cmd == RTM_GETACTION
* Change callers of rtnl_talk*() to always free the answer buffer if
  they passed one.
* Drop extra request buffer space in callers if only used for holding
  output data.
* Drop initialization of answer pointer if not necessary.
* Change callers to pass NULL instead of answer pointer if they don't
  use it afterwards.

Hangbin Liu (2):
  lib/libnetlink: re malloc buff if size is not enough
  lib/libnetlink: update rtnl_talk to support malloc buff at run time

 bridge/fdb.c         |   2 +-
 bridge/link.c        |   2 +-
 bridge/mdb.c         |   2 +-
 bridge/vlan.c        |   2 +-
 genl/ctrl.c          |  19 +++++---
 include/libnetlink.h |   6 +--
 ip/ipaddress.c       |   4 +-
 ip/ipaddrlabel.c     |   4 +-
 ip/ipfou.c           |   4 +-
 ip/ipila.c           |   4 +-
 ip/ipl2tp.c          |   8 +--
 ip/iplink.c          |  38 +++++++--------
 ip/iplink_vrf.c      |  44 ++++++++---------
 ip/ipmacsec.c        |   2 +-
 ip/ipneigh.c         |   2 +-
 ip/ipnetns.c         |  23 +++++----
 ip/ipntable.c        |   2 +-
 ip/iproute.c         |  26 ++++++----
 ip/iprule.c          |   6 +--
 ip/ipseg6.c          |   8 +--
 ip/iptoken.c         |   2 +-
 ip/link_gre.c        |  11 +++--
 ip/link_gre6.c       |  11 +++--
 ip/link_ip6tnl.c     |  11 +++--
 ip/link_iptnl.c      |  10 ++--
 ip/link_vti.c        |  11 +++--
 ip/link_vti6.c       |  11 +++--
 ip/tcp_metrics.c     |   8 +--
 ip/xfrm_policy.c     |  25 +++++-----
 ip/xfrm_state.c      |  30 ++++++------
 lib/libgenl.c        |   9 +++-
 lib/libnetlink.c     | 134 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-----------------
 misc/ss.c            |   2 +-
 tc/m_action.c        |  12 ++---
 tc/tc_class.c        |   2 +-
 tc/tc_filter.c       |   8 +--
 tc/tc_qdisc.c        |   2 +-
 37 files changed, 298 insertions(+), 209 deletions(-)

-- 
2.5.5

[PATCHv5 iproute2 net-next 2/2] lib/libnetlink: re malloc buff if size is not enough

[Hangbin Liu]

With commit 72b365e8e0fd ("libnetlink: Double the dump buffer size")
we doubled the buffer size to support more VFs. But the VFs number is
increasing all the time. Some customers even use more than 200 VFs now.

We could not double it everytime when the buffer is not enough. Let's just
not hard code the buffer size and malloc the correct number when running.

Introduce function rtnl_recvmsg() to always return a newly allocated buffer.
The caller need to free it after using.

Signed-off-by: Hangbin Liu <liuhangbin@gmail.com>
Signed-off-by: Phil Sutter <phil@nwl.cc>
---
 lib/libnetlink.c | 114 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-----------------
 1 file changed, 80 insertions(+), 34 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/libnetlink.c b/lib/libnetlink.c
index be7ac86..1847c0b 100644
--- a/lib/libnetlink.c
+++ b/lib/libnetlink.c
@@ -402,6 +402,64 @@ static void rtnl_dump_error(const struct rtnl_handle *rth,
 	}
 }
 
+static int __rtnl_recvmsg(int fd, struct msghdr *msg, int flags)
+{
+	int len;
+
+	do {
+		len = recvmsg(fd, msg, flags);
+	} while (len < 0 && (errno == EINTR || errno == EAGAIN));
+
+	if (len < 0) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "netlink receive error %s (%d)\n",
+			strerror(errno), errno);
+		return -errno;
+	}
+
+	if (len == 0) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "EOF on netlink\n");
+		return -ENODATA;
+	}
+
+	return len;
+}
+
+static int rtnl_recvmsg(int fd, struct msghdr *msg, char **answer)
+{
+	struct iovec *iov = msg->msg_iov;
+	char *buf;
+	int len;
+
+	iov->iov_base = NULL;
+	iov->iov_len = 0;
+
+	len = __rtnl_recvmsg(fd, msg, MSG_PEEK | MSG_TRUNC);
+	if (len < 0)
+		return len;
+
+	buf = malloc(len);
+	if (!buf) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "malloc error: not enough buffer\n");
+		return -ENOMEM;
+	}
+
+	iov->iov_base = buf;
+	iov->iov_len = len;
+
+	len = __rtnl_recvmsg(fd, msg, 0);
+	if (len < 0) {
+		free(buf);
+		return len;
+	}
+
+	if (answer)
+		*answer = buf;
+	else
+		free(buf);
+
+	return len;
+}
+
 int rtnl_dump_filter_l(struct rtnl_handle *rth,
 		       const struct rtnl_dump_filter_arg *arg)
 {
@@ -413,31 +471,18 @@ int rtnl_dump_filter_l(struct rtnl_handle *rth,
 		.msg_iov = &iov,
 		.msg_iovlen = 1,
 	};
-	char buf[32768];
+	char *buf;
 	int dump_intr = 0;
 
-	iov.iov_base = buf;
 	while (1) {
 		int status;
 		const struct rtnl_dump_filter_arg *a;
 		int found_done = 0;
 		int msglen = 0;
 
-		iov.iov_len = sizeof(buf);
-		status = recvmsg(rth->fd, &msg, 0);
-
-		if (status < 0) {
-			if (errno == EINTR || errno == EAGAIN)
-				continue;
-			fprintf(stderr, "netlink receive error %s (%d)\n",
-				strerror(errno), errno);
-			return -1;
-		}
-
-		if (status == 0) {
-			fprintf(stderr, "EOF on netlink\n");
-			return -1;
-		}
+		status = rtnl_recvmsg(rth->fd, &msg, &buf);
+		if (status < 0)
+			return status;
 
 		if (rth->dump_fp)
 			fwrite(buf, 1, NLMSG_ALIGN(status), rth->dump_fp);
@@ -462,8 +507,10 @@ int rtnl_dump_filter_l(struct rtnl_handle *rth,
 
 				if (h->nlmsg_type == NLMSG_DONE) {
 					err = rtnl_dump_done(h);
-					if (err < 0)
+					if (err < 0) {
+						free(buf);
 						return -1;
+					}
 
 					found_done = 1;
 					break; /* process next filter */
@@ -471,19 +518,23 @@ int rtnl_dump_filter_l(struct rtnl_handle *rth,
 
 				if (h->nlmsg_type == NLMSG_ERROR) {
 					rtnl_dump_error(rth, h);
+					free(buf);
 					return -1;
 				}
 
 				if (!rth->dump_fp) {
 					err = a->filter(&nladdr, h, a->arg1);
-					if (err < 0)
+					if (err < 0) {
+						free(buf);
 						return err;
+					}
 				}
 
 skip_it:
 				h = NLMSG_NEXT(h, msglen);
 			}
 		}
+		free(buf);
 
 		if (found_done) {
 			if (dump_intr)
@@ -543,7 +594,7 @@ static int __rtnl_talk(struct rtnl_handle *rtnl, struct nlmsghdr *n,
 		.msg_iov = &iov,
 		.msg_iovlen = 1,
 	};
-	char   buf[32768] = {};
+	char *buf;
 
 	n->nlmsg_seq = seq = ++rtnl->seq;
 
@@ -556,22 +607,12 @@ static int __rtnl_talk(struct rtnl_handle *rtnl, struct nlmsghdr *n,
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	iov.iov_base = buf;
 	while (1) {
-		iov.iov_len = sizeof(buf);
-		status = recvmsg(rtnl->fd, &msg, 0);
+		status = rtnl_recvmsg(rtnl->fd, &msg, &buf);
+
+		if (status < 0)
+			return status;
 
-		if (status < 0) {
-			if (errno == EINTR || errno == EAGAIN)
-				continue;
-			fprintf(stderr, "netlink receive error %s (%d)\n",
-				strerror(errno), errno);
-			return -1;
-		}
-		if (status == 0) {
-			fprintf(stderr, "EOF on netlink\n");
-			return -1;
-		}
 		if (msg.msg_namelen != sizeof(nladdr)) {
 			fprintf(stderr,
 				"sender address length == %d\n",
@@ -585,6 +626,7 @@ static int __rtnl_talk(struct rtnl_handle *rtnl, struct nlmsghdr *n,
 			if (l < 0 || len > status) {
 				if (msg.msg_flags & MSG_TRUNC) {
 					fprintf(stderr, "Truncated message\n");
+					free(buf);
 					return -1;
 				}
 				fprintf(stderr,
@@ -611,6 +653,7 @@ static int __rtnl_talk(struct rtnl_handle *rtnl, struct nlmsghdr *n,
 					if (answer)
 						memcpy(answer, h,
 						       MIN(maxlen, h->nlmsg_len));
+					free(buf);
 					return 0;
 				}
 
@@ -619,12 +662,14 @@ static int __rtnl_talk(struct rtnl_handle *rtnl, struct nlmsghdr *n,
 					rtnl_talk_error(h, err, errfn);
 
 				errno = -err->error;
+				free(buf);
 				return -1;
 			}
 
 			if (answer) {
 				memcpy(answer, h,
 				       MIN(maxlen, h->nlmsg_len));
+				free(buf);
 				return 0;
 			}
 
@@ -633,6 +678,7 @@ static int __rtnl_talk(struct rtnl_handle *rtnl, struct nlmsghdr *n,
 			status -= NLMSG_ALIGN(len);
 			h = (struct nlmsghdr *)((char *)h + NLMSG_ALIGN(len));
 		}
+		free(buf);
 
 		if (msg.msg_flags & MSG_TRUNC) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "Message truncated\n");
-- 
2.9.5

[PATCHv5 iproute2 net-next 2/2] lib/libnetlink: update rtnl_talk to support malloc buff at run time

[Hangbin Liu]

This is an update for 460c03f3f3cc ("iplink: double the buffer size also in
iplink_get()"). After update, we will not need to double the buffer size
every time when VFs number increased.

With call like rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0), we can simply remove the
length parameter.

With call like rtnl_talk(&rth, nlh, nlh, sizeof(req), I add a new variable
answer to avoid overwrite data in nlh, because it may has more info after
nlh. also this will avoid nlh buffer not enough issue.

We need to free answer after using.

Signed-off-by: Hangbin Liu <liuhangbin@gmail.com>
Signed-off-by: Phil Sutter <phil@nwl.cc>
---
 bridge/fdb.c         |  2 +-
 bridge/link.c        |  2 +-
 bridge/mdb.c         |  2 +-
 bridge/vlan.c        |  2 +-
 genl/ctrl.c          | 19 ++++++++++++-------
 include/libnetlink.h |  6 +++---
 ip/ipaddress.c       |  4 ++--
 ip/ipaddrlabel.c     |  4 ++--
 ip/ipfou.c           |  4 ++--
 ip/ipila.c           |  4 ++--
 ip/ipl2tp.c          |  8 ++++----
 ip/iplink.c          | 38 +++++++++++++++++++-------------------
 ip/iplink_vrf.c      | 44 ++++++++++++++++++++------------------------
 ip/ipmacsec.c        |  2 +-
 ip/ipneigh.c         |  2 +-
 ip/ipnetns.c         | 23 ++++++++++++++---------
 ip/ipntable.c        |  2 +-
 ip/iproute.c         | 26 +++++++++++++++++---------
 ip/iprule.c          |  6 +++---
 ip/ipseg6.c          |  8 +++++---
 ip/iptoken.c         |  2 +-
 ip/link_gre.c        | 11 +++++++----
 ip/link_gre6.c       | 11 +++++++----
 ip/link_ip6tnl.c     | 11 +++++++----
 ip/link_iptnl.c      | 10 ++++++----
 ip/link_vti.c        | 11 +++++++----
 ip/link_vti6.c       | 11 +++++++----
 ip/tcp_metrics.c     |  8 +++++---
 ip/xfrm_policy.c     | 25 +++++++++++++------------
 ip/xfrm_state.c      | 30 ++++++++++++++++--------------
 lib/libgenl.c        |  9 +++++++--
 lib/libnetlink.c     | 24 +++++++++++-------------
 misc/ss.c            |  2 +-
 tc/m_action.c        | 12 ++++++------
 tc/tc_class.c        |  2 +-
 tc/tc_filter.c       |  8 +++++---
 tc/tc_qdisc.c        |  2 +-
 37 files changed, 220 insertions(+), 177 deletions(-)

diff --git a/bridge/fdb.c b/bridge/fdb.c
index e5cebf9..807914f 100644
--- a/bridge/fdb.c
+++ b/bridge/fdb.c
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ static int fdb_modify(int cmd, int flags, int argc, char **argv)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return -1;
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/bridge/link.c b/bridge/link.c
index d3a211e..70aaa01 100644
--- a/bridge/link.c
+++ b/bridge/link.c
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ static int brlink_modify(int argc, char **argv)
 		addattr_nest_end(&req.n, nest);
 	}
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return -1;
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/bridge/mdb.c b/bridge/mdb.c
index 748091b..f38e326 100644
--- a/bridge/mdb.c
+++ b/bridge/mdb.c
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ static int mdb_modify(int cmd, int flags, int argc, char **argv)
 	entry.vid = vid;
 	addattr_l(&req.n, sizeof(req), MDBA_SET_ENTRY, &entry, sizeof(entry));
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return -1;
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/bridge/vlan.c b/bridge/vlan.c
index ebcdace..5d68359 100644
--- a/bridge/vlan.c
+++ b/bridge/vlan.c
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ static int vlan_modify(int cmd, int argc, char **argv)
 
 	addattr_nest_end(&req.n, afspec);
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return -1;
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/genl/ctrl.c b/genl/ctrl.c
index 448988e..a6d31b0 100644
--- a/genl/ctrl.c
+++ b/genl/ctrl.c
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ int genl_ctrl_resolve_family(const char *family)
 	};
 	struct nlmsghdr *nlh = &req.n;
 	struct genlmsghdr *ghdr = &req.g;
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer = NULL;
 
 	if (rtnl_open_byproto(&rth, 0, NETLINK_GENERIC) < 0) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "Cannot open generic netlink socket\n");
@@ -63,19 +64,19 @@ int genl_ctrl_resolve_family(const char *family)
 
 	addattr_l(nlh, 128, CTRL_ATTR_FAMILY_NAME, family, strlen(family) + 1);
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, nlh, nlh, sizeof(req)) < 0) {
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, nlh, &answer) < 0) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "Error talking to the kernel\n");
 		goto errout;
 	}
 
 	{
 		struct rtattr *tb[CTRL_ATTR_MAX + 1];
-		int len = nlh->nlmsg_len;
+		int len = answer->nlmsg_len;
 		struct rtattr *attrs;
 
-		if (nlh->nlmsg_type !=  GENL_ID_CTRL) {
+		if (answer->nlmsg_type !=  GENL_ID_CTRL) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "Not a controller message, nlmsg_len=%d "
-				"nlmsg_type=0x%x\n", nlh->nlmsg_len, nlh->nlmsg_type);
+				"nlmsg_type=0x%x\n", answer->nlmsg_len, answer->nlmsg_type);
 			goto errout;
 		}
 
@@ -88,10 +89,11 @@ int genl_ctrl_resolve_family(const char *family)
 
 		if (len < 0) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "wrong controller message len %d\n", len);
+			free(answer);
 			return -1;
 		}
 
-		attrs = (struct rtattr *) ((char *) ghdr + GENL_HDRLEN);
+		attrs = (struct rtattr *) ((char *) answer + NLMSG_LENGTH(GENL_HDRLEN));
 		parse_rtattr(tb, CTRL_ATTR_MAX, attrs, len);
 
 		if (tb[CTRL_ATTR_FAMILY_ID] == NULL) {
@@ -103,6 +105,7 @@ int genl_ctrl_resolve_family(const char *family)
 	}
 
 errout:
+	free(answer);
 	rtnl_close(&rth);
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -299,6 +302,7 @@ static int ctrl_list(int cmd, int argc, char **argv)
 		.g.cmd = CTRL_CMD_GETFAMILY,
 	};
 	struct nlmsghdr *nlh = &req.n;
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer = NULL;
 
 	if (rtnl_open_byproto(&rth, 0, NETLINK_GENERIC) < 0) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "Cannot open generic netlink socket\n");
@@ -331,12 +335,12 @@ static int ctrl_list(int cmd, int argc, char **argv)
 			goto ctrl_done;
 		}
 
-		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, nlh, nlh, sizeof(req)) < 0) {
+		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, nlh, &answer) < 0) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "Error talking to the kernel\n");
 			goto ctrl_done;
 		}
 
-		if (print_ctrl2(NULL, nlh, (void *) stdout) < 0) {
+		if (print_ctrl2(NULL, answer, (void *) stdout) < 0) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "Dump terminated\n");
 			goto ctrl_done;
 		}
@@ -358,6 +362,7 @@ static int ctrl_list(int cmd, int argc, char **argv)
 
 	ret = 0;
 ctrl_done:
+	free(answer);
 	rtnl_close(&rth);
 	return ret;
 }
diff --git a/include/libnetlink.h b/include/libnetlink.h
index 69257f0..77b6260 100644
--- a/include/libnetlink.h
+++ b/include/libnetlink.h
@@ -93,13 +93,13 @@ int rtnl_dump_filter_nc(struct rtnl_handle *rth,
 #define rtnl_dump_filter(rth, filter, arg) \
 	rtnl_dump_filter_nc(rth, filter, arg, 0)
 int rtnl_talk(struct rtnl_handle *rtnl, struct nlmsghdr *n,
-	      struct nlmsghdr *answer, size_t len)
+	      struct nlmsghdr **answer)
 	__attribute__((warn_unused_result));
 int rtnl_talk_extack(struct rtnl_handle *rtnl, struct nlmsghdr *n,
-	      struct nlmsghdr *answer, size_t len, nl_ext_ack_fn_t errfn)
+	      struct nlmsghdr **answer, nl_ext_ack_fn_t errfn)
 	__attribute__((warn_unused_result));
 int rtnl_talk_suppress_rtnl_errmsg(struct rtnl_handle *rtnl, struct nlmsghdr *n,
-				   struct nlmsghdr *answer, size_t len)
+				   struct nlmsghdr **answer)
 	__attribute__((warn_unused_result));
 int rtnl_send(struct rtnl_handle *rth, const void *buf, int)
 	__attribute__((warn_unused_result));
diff --git a/ip/ipaddress.c b/ip/ipaddress.c
index 9e9a7e0..c8db769 100644
--- a/ip/ipaddress.c
+++ b/ip/ipaddress.c
@@ -1838,7 +1838,7 @@ static int restore_handler(const struct sockaddr_nl *nl,
 
 	ll_init_map(&rth);
 
-	ret = rtnl_talk(&rth, n, n, sizeof(*n));
+	ret = rtnl_talk(&rth, n, NULL);
 	if ((ret < 0) && (errno == EEXIST))
 		ret = 0;
 
@@ -2534,7 +2534,7 @@ static int ipaddr_modify(int cmd, int flags, int argc, char **argv)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return -2;
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/ip/ipaddrlabel.c b/ip/ipaddrlabel.c
index 1d324da..6ea9bff 100644
--- a/ip/ipaddrlabel.c
+++ b/ip/ipaddrlabel.c
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ static int ipaddrlabel_modify(int cmd, int argc, char **argv)
 	if (req.ifal.ifal_family == AF_UNSPEC)
 		req.ifal.ifal_family = AF_INET6;
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return -2;
 
 	return 0;
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ static int flush_addrlabel(const struct sockaddr_nl *who, struct nlmsghdr *n, vo
 		if (rtnl_open(&rth2, 0) < 0)
 			return -1;
 
-		if (rtnl_talk(&rth2, n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+		if (rtnl_talk(&rth2, n, NULL) < 0)
 			return -2;
 
 		rtnl_close(&rth2);
diff --git a/ip/ipfou.c b/ip/ipfou.c
index 00dbe15..23000dc 100644
--- a/ip/ipfou.c
+++ b/ip/ipfou.c
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ static int do_add(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	fou_parse_opt(argc, argv, &req.n, true);
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&genl_rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&genl_rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return -2;
 
 	return 0;
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ static int do_del(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	fou_parse_opt(argc, argv, &req.n, false);
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&genl_rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&genl_rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return -2;
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/ip/ipila.c b/ip/ipila.c
index 843cc16..0403fc4 100644
--- a/ip/ipila.c
+++ b/ip/ipila.c
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ static int do_add(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	ila_parse_opt(argc, argv, &req.n, true);
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&genl_rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&genl_rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return -2;
 
 	return 0;
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ static int do_del(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	ila_parse_opt(argc, argv, &req.n, false);
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&genl_rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&genl_rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return -2;
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/ip/ipl2tp.c b/ip/ipl2tp.c
index 1e37b17..7c5ed31 100644
--- a/ip/ipl2tp.c
+++ b/ip/ipl2tp.c
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ static int create_tunnel(struct l2tp_parm *p)
 			addattr(&req.n, 1024, L2TP_ATTR_UDP_ZERO_CSUM6_RX);
 	}
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&genl_rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&genl_rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return -2;
 
 	return 0;
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ static int delete_tunnel(struct l2tp_parm *p)
 
 	addattr32(&req.n, 128, L2TP_ATTR_CONN_ID, p->tunnel_id);
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&genl_rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&genl_rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return -2;
 
 	return 0;
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ static int create_session(struct l2tp_parm *p)
 	if (p->ifname)
 		addattrstrz(&req.n, 1024, L2TP_ATTR_IFNAME, p->ifname);
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&genl_rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&genl_rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return -2;
 
 	return 0;
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ static int delete_session(struct l2tp_parm *p)
 
 	addattr32(&req.n, 1024, L2TP_ATTR_CONN_ID, p->tunnel_id);
 	addattr32(&req.n, 1024, L2TP_ATTR_SESSION_ID, p->session_id);
-	if (rtnl_talk(&genl_rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&genl_rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return -2;
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/ip/iplink.c b/ip/iplink.c
index 6a96ea9..0daca3f 100644
--- a/ip/iplink.c
+++ b/ip/iplink.c
@@ -249,19 +249,26 @@ static int nl_get_ll_addr_len(unsigned int dev_index)
 			.ifi_index = dev_index,
 		}
 	};
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer;
 	struct rtattr *tb[IFLA_MAX+1];
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &req.n, sizeof(req)) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &answer) < 0)
 		return -1;
 
-	len = req.n.nlmsg_len - NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(req.i));
-	if (len < 0)
+	len = answer->nlmsg_len - NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(struct ifinfomsg));
+	if (len < 0) {
+		free(answer);
 		return -1;
+	}
 
-	parse_rtattr_flags(tb, IFLA_MAX, IFLA_RTA(&req.i), len, NLA_F_NESTED);
-	if (!tb[IFLA_ADDRESS])
+	parse_rtattr_flags(tb, IFLA_MAX, IFLA_RTA(NLMSG_DATA(answer)),
+			   len, NLA_F_NESTED);
+	if (!tb[IFLA_ADDRESS]) {
+		free(answer);
 		return -1;
+	}
 
+	free(answer);
 	return RTA_PAYLOAD(tb[IFLA_ADDRESS]);
 }
 
@@ -916,7 +923,7 @@ static int iplink_modify(int cmd, unsigned int flags, int argc, char **argv)
 
 			req.i.ifi_index = 0;
 			addattr32(&req.n, sizeof(req), IFLA_GROUP, group);
-			if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+			if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 				return -2;
 			return 0;
 		}
@@ -1006,7 +1013,7 @@ static int iplink_modify(int cmd, unsigned int flags, int argc, char **argv)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return -2;
 
 	return 0;
@@ -1020,10 +1027,7 @@ int iplink_get(unsigned int flags, char *name, __u32 filt_mask)
 		.n.nlmsg_type = RTM_GETLINK,
 		.i.ifi_family = preferred_family,
 	};
-	struct {
-		struct nlmsghdr n;
-		char buf[32768];
-	} answer;
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer;
 
 	if (name) {
 		addattr_l(&req.n, sizeof(req),
@@ -1031,21 +1035,17 @@ int iplink_get(unsigned int flags, char *name, __u32 filt_mask)
 	}
 	addattr32(&req.n, sizeof(req), IFLA_EXT_MASK, filt_mask);
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &answer.n, sizeof(answer)) < 0)
-		return -2;
-	if (answer.n.nlmsg_len > sizeof(answer.buf)) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "Message truncated from %u to %lu\n",
-			answer.n.nlmsg_len, sizeof(answer.buf));
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &answer) < 0)
 		return -2;
-	}
 
 	open_json_object(NULL);
 	if (brief)
-		print_linkinfo_brief(NULL, &answer.n, stdout, NULL);
+		print_linkinfo_brief(NULL, answer, stdout, NULL);
 	else
-		print_linkinfo(NULL, &answer.n, stdout);
+		print_linkinfo(NULL, answer, stdout);
 	close_json_object();
 
+	free(answer);
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/ip/iplink_vrf.c b/ip/iplink_vrf.c
index 7a1bb5e..e9dd0df 100644
--- a/ip/iplink_vrf.c
+++ b/ip/iplink_vrf.c
@@ -119,10 +119,7 @@ __u32 ipvrf_get_table(const char *name)
 			.ifi_family  = preferred_family,
 		},
 	};
-	struct {
-		struct nlmsghdr n;
-		char buf[8192];
-	} answer;
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer;
 	struct rtattr *tb[IFLA_MAX+1];
 	struct rtattr *li[IFLA_INFO_MAX+1];
 	struct rtattr *vrf_attr[IFLA_VRF_MAX + 1];
@@ -132,8 +129,7 @@ __u32 ipvrf_get_table(const char *name)
 
 	addattr_l(&req.n, sizeof(req), IFLA_IFNAME, name, strlen(name) + 1);
 
-	if (rtnl_talk_suppress_rtnl_errmsg(&rth, &req.n,
-					   &answer.n, sizeof(answer)) < 0) {
+	if (rtnl_talk_suppress_rtnl_errmsg(&rth, &req.n, &answer) < 0) {
 		/* special case "default" vrf to be the main table */
 		if (errno == ENODEV && !strcmp(name, "default"))
 			if (rtnl_rttable_a2n(&tb_id, "main"))
@@ -143,25 +139,25 @@ __u32 ipvrf_get_table(const char *name)
 		return tb_id;
 	}
 
-	ifi = NLMSG_DATA(&answer.n);
-	len = answer.n.nlmsg_len - NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(*ifi));
+	ifi = NLMSG_DATA(answer);
+	len = answer->nlmsg_len - NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(*ifi));
 	if (len < 0) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "BUG: Invalid response to link query.\n");
-		return 0;
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	parse_rtattr(tb, IFLA_MAX, IFLA_RTA(ifi), len);
 
 	if (!tb[IFLA_LINKINFO])
-		return 0;
+		goto out;
 
 	parse_rtattr_nested(li, IFLA_INFO_MAX, tb[IFLA_LINKINFO]);
 
 	if (!li[IFLA_INFO_KIND] || !li[IFLA_INFO_DATA])
-		return 0;
+		goto out;
 
 	if (strcmp(RTA_DATA(li[IFLA_INFO_KIND]), "vrf"))
-		return 0;
+		goto out;
 
 	parse_rtattr_nested(vrf_attr, IFLA_VRF_MAX, li[IFLA_INFO_DATA]);
 	if (vrf_attr[IFLA_VRF_TABLE])
@@ -170,6 +166,8 @@ __u32 ipvrf_get_table(const char *name)
 	if (!tb_id)
 		fprintf(stderr, "BUG: VRF %s is missing table id\n", name);
 
+out:
+	free(answer);
 	return tb_id;
 }
 
@@ -189,10 +187,7 @@ int name_is_vrf(const char *name)
 			.ifi_family  = preferred_family,
 		},
 	};
-	struct {
-		struct nlmsghdr n;
-		char buf[8192];
-	} answer;
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer;
 	struct rtattr *tb[IFLA_MAX+1];
 	struct rtattr *li[IFLA_INFO_MAX+1];
 	struct ifinfomsg *ifi;
@@ -200,29 +195,30 @@ int name_is_vrf(const char *name)
 
 	addattr_l(&req.n, sizeof(req), IFLA_IFNAME, name, strlen(name) + 1);
 
-	if (rtnl_talk_suppress_rtnl_errmsg(&rth, &req.n,
-					   &answer.n, sizeof(answer)) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk_suppress_rtnl_errmsg(&rth, &req.n, &answer) < 0)
 		return 0;
 
-	ifi = NLMSG_DATA(&answer.n);
-	len = answer.n.nlmsg_len - NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(*ifi));
+	ifi = NLMSG_DATA(answer);
+	len = answer->nlmsg_len - NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(*ifi));
 	if (len < 0) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "BUG: Invalid response to link query.\n");
-		return 0;
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	parse_rtattr(tb, IFLA_MAX, IFLA_RTA(ifi), len);
 
 	if (!tb[IFLA_LINKINFO])
-		return 0;
+		goto out;
 
 	parse_rtattr_nested(li, IFLA_INFO_MAX, tb[IFLA_LINKINFO]);
 
 	if (!li[IFLA_INFO_KIND])
-		return 0;
+		goto out;
 
 	if (strcmp(RTA_DATA(li[IFLA_INFO_KIND]), "vrf"))
-		return 0;
+		goto out;
 
+out:
+	free(answer);
 	return ifi->ifi_index;
 }
diff --git a/ip/ipmacsec.c b/ip/ipmacsec.c
index ecc371a..345a707 100644
--- a/ip/ipmacsec.c
+++ b/ip/ipmacsec.c
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ static int do_modify_nl(enum cmd c, enum macsec_nl_commands cmd, int ifindex,
 	addattr_nest_end(&req.n, attr_sa);
 
 talk:
-	if (rtnl_talk(&genl_rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&genl_rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return -2;
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/ip/ipneigh.c b/ip/ipneigh.c
index 9c38a60..32f2d55 100644
--- a/ip/ipneigh.c
+++ b/ip/ipneigh.c
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ static int ipneigh_modify(int cmd, int flags, int argc, char **argv)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		exit(2);
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/ip/ipnetns.c b/ip/ipnetns.c
index afb4978..bc70997 100644
--- a/ip/ipnetns.c
+++ b/ip/ipnetns.c
@@ -95,12 +95,13 @@ static int get_netnsid_from_name(const char *name)
 		struct nlmsghdr n;
 		struct rtgenmsg g;
 		char            buf[1024];
-	} answer, req = {
+	} req = {
 		.n.nlmsg_len = NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(struct rtgenmsg)),
 		.n.nlmsg_flags = NLM_F_REQUEST,
 		.n.nlmsg_type = RTM_GETNSID,
 		.g.rtgen_family = AF_UNSPEC,
 	};
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer;
 	struct rtattr *tb[NETNSA_MAX + 1];
 	struct rtgenmsg *rthdr;
 	int len, fd;
@@ -110,26 +111,30 @@ static int get_netnsid_from_name(const char *name)
 		return fd;
 
 	addattr32(&req.n, 1024, NETNSA_FD, fd);
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rtnsh, &req.n, &answer.n, sizeof(answer)) < 0) {
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rtnsh, &req.n, &answer) < 0) {
 		close(fd);
 		return -2;
 	}
 	close(fd);
 
 	/* Validate message and parse attributes */
-	if (answer.n.nlmsg_type == NLMSG_ERROR)
-		return -1;
+	if (answer->nlmsg_type == NLMSG_ERROR)
+		goto err_out;
 
-	rthdr = NLMSG_DATA(&answer.n);
-	len = answer.n.nlmsg_len - NLMSG_SPACE(sizeof(*rthdr));
+	rthdr = NLMSG_DATA(answer);
+	len = answer->nlmsg_len - NLMSG_SPACE(sizeof(*rthdr));
 	if (len < 0)
-		return -1;
+		goto err_out;
 
 	parse_rtattr(tb, NETNSA_MAX, NETNS_RTA(rthdr), len);
 
-	if (tb[NETNSA_NSID])
+	if (tb[NETNSA_NSID]) {
+		free(answer);
 		return rta_getattr_u32(tb[NETNSA_NSID]);
+	}
 
+err_out:
+	free(answer);
 	return -1;
 }
 
@@ -689,7 +694,7 @@ static int set_netnsid_from_name(const char *name, int nsid)
 
 	addattr32(&req.n, 1024, NETNSA_FD, fd);
 	addattr32(&req.n, 1024, NETNSA_NSID, nsid);
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		err = -2;
 
 	close(fd);
diff --git a/ip/ipntable.c b/ip/ipntable.c
index 88236ce..2f72c98 100644
--- a/ip/ipntable.c
+++ b/ip/ipntable.c
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ static int ipntable_modify(int cmd, int flags, int argc, char **argv)
 			  RTA_PAYLOAD(parms_rta));
 	}
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		exit(2);
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/ip/iproute.c b/ip/iproute.c
index e81bc05..531af77 100644
--- a/ip/iproute.c
+++ b/ip/iproute.c
@@ -1300,7 +1300,7 @@ static int iproute_modify(int cmd, unsigned int flags, int argc, char **argv)
 	if (!type_ok && req.r.rtm_family == AF_MPLS)
 		req.r.rtm_type = RTN_UNICAST;
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return -2;
 
 	return 0;
@@ -1680,6 +1680,7 @@ static int iproute_get(int argc, char **argv)
 	};
 	char  *idev = NULL;
 	char  *odev = NULL;
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer;
 	int connected = 0;
 	int fib_match = 0;
 	int from_ok = 0;
@@ -1800,26 +1801,29 @@ static int iproute_get(int argc, char **argv)
 	if (fib_match)
 		req.r.rtm_flags |= RTM_F_FIB_MATCH;
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &req.n, sizeof(req)) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &answer) < 0)
 		return -2;
 
 	if (connected && !from_ok) {
-		struct rtmsg *r = NLMSG_DATA(&req.n);
-		int len = req.n.nlmsg_len;
+		struct rtmsg *r = NLMSG_DATA(answer);
+		int len = answer->nlmsg_len;
 		struct rtattr *tb[RTA_MAX+1];
 
-		if (print_route(NULL, &req.n, (void *)stdout) < 0) {
+		if (print_route(NULL, answer, (void *)stdout) < 0) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "An error :-)\n");
+			free(answer);
 			return -1;
 		}
 
-		if (req.n.nlmsg_type != RTM_NEWROUTE) {
+		if (answer->nlmsg_type != RTM_NEWROUTE) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "Not a route?\n");
+			free(answer);
 			return -1;
 		}
 		len -= NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(*r));
 		if (len < 0) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "Wrong len %d\n", len);
+			free(answer);
 			return -1;
 		}
 
@@ -1830,6 +1834,7 @@ static int iproute_get(int argc, char **argv)
 			r->rtm_src_len = 8*RTA_PAYLOAD(tb[RTA_PREFSRC]);
 		} else if (!tb[RTA_SRC]) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "Failed to connect the route\n");
+			free(answer);
 			return -1;
 		}
 		if (!odev && tb[RTA_OIF])
@@ -1843,15 +1848,18 @@ static int iproute_get(int argc, char **argv)
 		req.n.nlmsg_flags = NLM_F_REQUEST;
 		req.n.nlmsg_type = RTM_GETROUTE;
 
-		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &req.n, sizeof(req)) < 0)
+		free(answer);
+		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &answer) < 0)
 			return -2;
 	}
 
-	if (print_route(NULL, &req.n, (void *)stdout) < 0) {
+	if (print_route(NULL, answer, (void *)stdout) < 0) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "An error :-)\n");
+		free(answer);
 		return -1;
 	}
 
+	free(answer);
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -1895,7 +1903,7 @@ restore:
 
 	ll_init_map(&rth);
 
-	ret = rtnl_talk(&rth, n, n, sizeof(*n));
+	ret = rtnl_talk(&rth, n, NULL);
 	if ((ret < 0) && (errno == EEXIST))
 		ret = 0;
 
diff --git a/ip/iprule.c b/ip/iprule.c
index 36c57fa..201d3bd 100644
--- a/ip/iprule.c
+++ b/ip/iprule.c
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ static int flush_rule(const struct sockaddr_nl *who, struct nlmsghdr *n,
 		if (rtnl_open(&rth2, 0) < 0)
 			return -1;
 
-		if (rtnl_talk(&rth2, n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+		if (rtnl_talk(&rth2, n, NULL) < 0)
 			return -2;
 
 		rtnl_close(&rth2);
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ static int restore_handler(const struct sockaddr_nl *nl,
 
 	ll_init_map(&rth);
 
-	ret = rtnl_talk(&rth, n, n, sizeof(*n));
+	ret = rtnl_talk(&rth, n, NULL);
 	if ((ret < 0) && (errno == EEXIST))
 		ret = 0;
 
@@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ static int iprule_modify(int cmd, int argc, char **argv)
 	if (!table_ok && cmd == RTM_NEWRULE)
 		req.r.rtm_table = RT_TABLE_MAIN;
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return -2;
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/ip/ipseg6.c b/ip/ipseg6.c
index a8f5c69..461a3c1 100644
--- a/ip/ipseg6.c
+++ b/ip/ipseg6.c
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ static int process_msg(const struct sockaddr_nl *who, struct nlmsghdr *n,
 static int seg6_do_cmd(void)
 {
 	SEG6_REQUEST(req, 1024, opts.cmd, NLM_F_REQUEST);
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer;
 	int repl = 0, dump = 0;
 
 	if (genl_family < 0) {
@@ -163,15 +164,16 @@ static int seg6_do_cmd(void)
 	}
 
 	if (!repl && !dump) {
-		if (rtnl_talk(&grth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+		if (rtnl_talk(&grth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 			return -1;
 	} else if (repl) {
-		if (rtnl_talk(&grth, &req.n, &req.n, sizeof(req)) < 0)
+		if (rtnl_talk(&grth, &req.n, &answer) < 0)
 			return -2;
-		if (process_msg(NULL, &req.n, stdout) < 0) {
+		if (process_msg(NULL, answer, stdout) < 0) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "Error parsing reply\n");
 			exit(1);
 		}
+		free(answer);
 	} else {
 		req.n.nlmsg_flags |= NLM_F_DUMP;
 		req.n.nlmsg_seq = grth.dump = ++grth.seq;
diff --git a/ip/iptoken.c b/ip/iptoken.c
index 1869f76..0528bad 100644
--- a/ip/iptoken.c
+++ b/ip/iptoken.c
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ static int iptoken_set(int argc, char **argv, bool delete)
 	addattr_nest_end(&req.n, afs6);
 	addattr_nest_end(&req.n, afs);
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return -2;
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/ip/link_gre.c b/ip/link_gre.c
index 9ea2970..35782ca 100644
--- a/ip/link_gre.c
+++ b/ip/link_gre.c
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@ static int gre_parse_opt(struct link_util *lu, int argc, char **argv,
 	struct {
 		struct nlmsghdr n;
 		struct ifinfomsg i;
-		char buf[16384];
 	} req = {
 		.n.nlmsg_len = NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(*ifi)),
 		.n.nlmsg_flags = NLM_F_REQUEST,
@@ -76,6 +75,7 @@ static int gre_parse_opt(struct link_util *lu, int argc, char **argv,
 		.i.ifi_family = preferred_family,
 		.i.ifi_index = ifi->ifi_index,
 	};
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer = NULL;
 	struct rtattr *tb[IFLA_MAX + 1];
 	struct rtattr *linkinfo[IFLA_INFO_MAX+1];
 	struct rtattr *greinfo[IFLA_GRE_MAX + 1];
@@ -100,19 +100,20 @@ static int gre_parse_opt(struct link_util *lu, int argc, char **argv,
 	__u32 erspan_idx = 0;
 
 	if (!(n->nlmsg_flags & NLM_F_CREATE)) {
-		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &req.n, sizeof(req)) < 0) {
+		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &answer) < 0) {
 get_failed:
 			fprintf(stderr,
 				"Failed to get existing tunnel info.\n");
+			free(answer);
 			return -1;
 		}
 
-		len = req.n.nlmsg_len;
+		len = answer->nlmsg_len;
 		len -= NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(*ifi));
 		if (len < 0)
 			goto get_failed;
 
-		parse_rtattr(tb, IFLA_MAX, IFLA_RTA(&req.i), len);
+		parse_rtattr(tb, IFLA_MAX, IFLA_RTA(NLMSG_DATA(answer)), len);
 
 		if (!tb[IFLA_LINKINFO])
 			goto get_failed;
@@ -177,6 +178,8 @@ get_failed:
 
 		if (greinfo[IFLA_GRE_ERSPAN_INDEX])
 			erspan_idx = rta_getattr_u32(greinfo[IFLA_GRE_ERSPAN_INDEX]);
+
+		free(answer);
 	}
 
 	while (argc > 0) {
diff --git a/ip/link_gre6.c b/ip/link_gre6.c
index 7d07932..2eedec8 100644
--- a/ip/link_gre6.c
+++ b/ip/link_gre6.c
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ static int gre_parse_opt(struct link_util *lu, int argc, char **argv,
 	struct {
 		struct nlmsghdr n;
 		struct ifinfomsg i;
-		char buf[1024];
 	} req = {
 		.n.nlmsg_len = NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(*ifi)),
 		.n.nlmsg_flags = NLM_F_REQUEST,
@@ -86,6 +85,7 @@ static int gre_parse_opt(struct link_util *lu, int argc, char **argv,
 		.i.ifi_family = preferred_family,
 		.i.ifi_index = ifi->ifi_index,
 	};
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer = NULL;
 	struct rtattr *tb[IFLA_MAX + 1];
 	struct rtattr *linkinfo[IFLA_INFO_MAX+1];
 	struct rtattr *greinfo[IFLA_GRE_MAX + 1];
@@ -108,19 +108,20 @@ static int gre_parse_opt(struct link_util *lu, int argc, char **argv,
 	__u32 fwmark = 0;
 
 	if (!(n->nlmsg_flags & NLM_F_CREATE)) {
-		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &req.n, sizeof(req)) < 0) {
+		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &answer) < 0) {
 get_failed:
 			fprintf(stderr,
 				"Failed to get existing tunnel info.\n");
+			free(answer);
 			return -1;
 		}
 
-		len = req.n.nlmsg_len;
+		len = answer->nlmsg_len;
 		len -= NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(*ifi));
 		if (len < 0)
 			goto get_failed;
 
-		parse_rtattr(tb, IFLA_MAX, IFLA_RTA(&req.i), len);
+		parse_rtattr(tb, IFLA_MAX, IFLA_RTA(NLMSG_DATA(answer)), len);
 
 		if (!tb[IFLA_LINKINFO])
 			goto get_failed;
@@ -180,6 +181,8 @@ get_failed:
 
 		if (greinfo[IFLA_GRE_FWMARK])
 			fwmark = rta_getattr_u32(greinfo[IFLA_GRE_FWMARK]);
+
+		free(answer);
 	}
 
 	while (argc > 0) {
diff --git a/ip/link_ip6tnl.c b/ip/link_ip6tnl.c
index a419900..2f8c3f3 100644
--- a/ip/link_ip6tnl.c
+++ b/ip/link_ip6tnl.c
@@ -75,7 +75,6 @@ static int ip6tunnel_parse_opt(struct link_util *lu, int argc, char **argv,
 	struct {
 		struct nlmsghdr n;
 		struct ifinfomsg i;
-		char buf[2048];
 	} req = {
 		.n.nlmsg_len = NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(*ifi)),
 		.n.nlmsg_flags = NLM_F_REQUEST,
@@ -83,6 +82,7 @@ static int ip6tunnel_parse_opt(struct link_util *lu, int argc, char **argv,
 		.i.ifi_family = preferred_family,
 		.i.ifi_index = ifi->ifi_index,
 	};
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer = NULL;
 	struct rtattr *tb[IFLA_MAX + 1];
 	struct rtattr *linkinfo[IFLA_INFO_MAX+1];
 	struct rtattr *iptuninfo[IFLA_IPTUN_MAX + 1];
@@ -103,19 +103,20 @@ static int ip6tunnel_parse_opt(struct link_util *lu, int argc, char **argv,
 	__u32 fwmark = 0;
 
 	if (!(n->nlmsg_flags & NLM_F_CREATE)) {
-		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &req.n, sizeof(req)) < 0) {
+		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &answer) < 0) {
 get_failed:
 			fprintf(stderr,
 				"Failed to get existing tunnel info.\n");
+			free(answer);
 			return -1;
 		}
 
-		len = req.n.nlmsg_len;
+		len = answer->nlmsg_len;
 		len -= NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(*ifi));
 		if (len < 0)
 			goto get_failed;
 
-		parse_rtattr(tb, IFLA_MAX, IFLA_RTA(&req.i), len);
+		parse_rtattr(tb, IFLA_MAX, IFLA_RTA(NLMSG_DATA(answer)), len);
 
 		if (!tb[IFLA_LINKINFO])
 			goto get_failed;
@@ -158,6 +159,8 @@ get_failed:
 
 		if (iptuninfo[IFLA_IPTUN_FWMARK])
 			fwmark = rta_getattr_u32(iptuninfo[IFLA_IPTUN_FWMARK]);
+
+		free(answer);
 	}
 
 	while (argc > 0) {
diff --git a/ip/link_iptnl.c b/ip/link_iptnl.c
index 6a725e9..4940b8b 100644
--- a/ip/link_iptnl.c
+++ b/ip/link_iptnl.c
@@ -76,7 +76,6 @@ static int iptunnel_parse_opt(struct link_util *lu, int argc, char **argv,
 	struct {
 		struct nlmsghdr n;
 		struct ifinfomsg i;
-		char buf[2048];
 	} req = {
 		.n.nlmsg_len = NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(*ifi)),
 		.n.nlmsg_flags = NLM_F_REQUEST,
@@ -84,6 +83,7 @@ static int iptunnel_parse_opt(struct link_util *lu, int argc, char **argv,
 		.i.ifi_family = preferred_family,
 		.i.ifi_index = ifi->ifi_index,
 	};
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer = NULL;
 	struct rtattr *tb[IFLA_MAX + 1];
 	struct rtattr *linkinfo[IFLA_INFO_MAX+1];
 	struct rtattr *iptuninfo[IFLA_IPTUN_MAX + 1];
@@ -108,19 +108,20 @@ static int iptunnel_parse_opt(struct link_util *lu, int argc, char **argv,
 	__u32 fwmark = 0;
 
 	if (!(n->nlmsg_flags & NLM_F_CREATE)) {
-		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &req.n, sizeof(req)) < 0) {
+		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &answer) < 0) {
 get_failed:
 			fprintf(stderr,
 				"Failed to get existing tunnel info.\n");
+			free(answer);
 			return -1;
 		}
 
-		len = req.n.nlmsg_len;
+		len = answer->nlmsg_len;
 		len -= NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(*ifi));
 		if (len < 0)
 			goto get_failed;
 
-		parse_rtattr(tb, IFLA_MAX, IFLA_RTA(&req.i), len);
+		parse_rtattr(tb, IFLA_MAX, IFLA_RTA(NLMSG_DATA(answer)), len);
 
 		if (!tb[IFLA_LINKINFO])
 			goto get_failed;
@@ -188,6 +189,7 @@ get_failed:
 		if (iptuninfo[IFLA_IPTUN_FWMARK])
 			fwmark = rta_getattr_u32(iptuninfo[IFLA_IPTUN_FWMARK]);
 
+		free(answer);
 	}
 
 	while (argc > 0) {
diff --git a/ip/link_vti.c b/ip/link_vti.c
index 8bd4d90..07ac94e 100644
--- a/ip/link_vti.c
+++ b/ip/link_vti.c
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ static int vti_parse_opt(struct link_util *lu, int argc, char **argv,
 	struct {
 		struct nlmsghdr n;
 		struct ifinfomsg i;
-		char buf[1024];
 	} req = {
 		.n.nlmsg_len = NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(*ifi)),
 		.n.nlmsg_flags = NLM_F_REQUEST,
@@ -61,6 +60,7 @@ static int vti_parse_opt(struct link_util *lu, int argc, char **argv,
 		.i.ifi_family = preferred_family,
 		.i.ifi_index = ifi->ifi_index,
 	};
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer = NULL;
 	struct rtattr *tb[IFLA_MAX + 1];
 	struct rtattr *linkinfo[IFLA_INFO_MAX+1];
 	struct rtattr *vtiinfo[IFLA_VTI_MAX + 1];
@@ -73,19 +73,20 @@ static int vti_parse_opt(struct link_util *lu, int argc, char **argv,
 	int len;
 
 	if (!(n->nlmsg_flags & NLM_F_CREATE)) {
-		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &req.n, sizeof(req)) < 0) {
+		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &answer) < 0) {
 get_failed:
 			fprintf(stderr,
 				"Failed to get existing tunnel info.\n");
+			free(answer);
 			return -1;
 		}
 
-		len = req.n.nlmsg_len;
+		len = answer->nlmsg_len;
 		len -= NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(*ifi));
 		if (len < 0)
 			goto get_failed;
 
-		parse_rtattr(tb, IFLA_MAX, IFLA_RTA(&req.i), len);
+		parse_rtattr(tb, IFLA_MAX, IFLA_RTA(NLMSG_DATA(answer)), len);
 
 		if (!tb[IFLA_LINKINFO])
 			goto get_failed;
@@ -115,6 +116,8 @@ get_failed:
 
 		if (vtiinfo[IFLA_VTI_FWMARK])
 			fwmark = rta_getattr_u32(vtiinfo[IFLA_VTI_FWMARK]);
+
+		free(answer);
 	}
 
 	while (argc > 0) {
diff --git a/ip/link_vti6.c b/ip/link_vti6.c
index 8198d46..6d08bfe 100644
--- a/ip/link_vti6.c
+++ b/ip/link_vti6.c
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ static int vti6_parse_opt(struct link_util *lu, int argc, char **argv,
 	struct {
 		struct nlmsghdr n;
 		struct ifinfomsg i;
-		char buf[1024];
 	} req = {
 		.n.nlmsg_len = NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(*ifi)),
 		.n.nlmsg_flags = NLM_F_REQUEST,
@@ -56,6 +55,7 @@ static int vti6_parse_opt(struct link_util *lu, int argc, char **argv,
 		.i.ifi_family = preferred_family,
 		.i.ifi_index = ifi->ifi_index,
 	};
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer = NULL;
 	struct rtattr *tb[IFLA_MAX + 1];
 	struct rtattr *linkinfo[IFLA_INFO_MAX+1];
 	struct rtattr *vtiinfo[IFLA_VTI_MAX + 1];
@@ -68,19 +68,20 @@ static int vti6_parse_opt(struct link_util *lu, int argc, char **argv,
 	int len;
 
 	if (!(n->nlmsg_flags & NLM_F_CREATE)) {
-		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &req.n, sizeof(req)) < 0) {
+		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &answer) < 0) {
 get_failed:
 			fprintf(stderr,
 				"Failed to get existing tunnel info.\n");
+			free(answer);
 			return -1;
 		}
 
-		len = req.n.nlmsg_len;
+		len = answer->nlmsg_len;
 		len -= NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(*ifi));
 		if (len < 0)
 			goto get_failed;
 
-		parse_rtattr(tb, IFLA_MAX, IFLA_RTA(&req.i), len);
+		parse_rtattr(tb, IFLA_MAX, IFLA_RTA(NLMSG_DATA(answer)), len);
 
 		if (!tb[IFLA_LINKINFO])
 			goto get_failed;
@@ -110,6 +111,8 @@ get_failed:
 
 		if (vtiinfo[IFLA_VTI_FWMARK])
 			fwmark = rta_getattr_u32(vtiinfo[IFLA_VTI_FWMARK]);
+
+		free(answer);
 	}
 
 	while (argc > 0) {
diff --git a/ip/tcp_metrics.c b/ip/tcp_metrics.c
index 8972acd..3f9790e 100644
--- a/ip/tcp_metrics.c
+++ b/ip/tcp_metrics.c
@@ -306,6 +306,7 @@ static int process_msg(const struct sockaddr_nl *who, struct nlmsghdr *n,
 static int tcpm_do_cmd(int cmd, int argc, char **argv)
 {
 	TCPM_REQUEST(req, 1024, TCP_METRICS_CMD_GET, NLM_F_REQUEST);
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer;
 	int atype = -1, stype = -1;
 	int ack;
 
@@ -457,15 +458,16 @@ static int tcpm_do_cmd(int cmd, int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 
 	if (ack) {
-		if (rtnl_talk(&grth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+		if (rtnl_talk(&grth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 			return -2;
 	} else if (atype >= 0) {
-		if (rtnl_talk(&grth, &req.n, &req.n, sizeof(req)) < 0)
+		if (rtnl_talk(&grth, &req.n, &answer) < 0)
 			return -2;
-		if (process_msg(NULL, &req.n, stdout) < 0) {
+		if (process_msg(NULL, answer, stdout) < 0) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "Dump terminated\n");
 			exit(1);
 		}
+		free(answer);
 	} else {
 		req.n.nlmsg_seq = grth.dump = ++grth.seq;
 		if (rtnl_send(&grth, &req, req.n.nlmsg_len) < 0) {
diff --git a/ip/xfrm_policy.c b/ip/xfrm_policy.c
index de689c4..98460a0 100644
--- a/ip/xfrm_policy.c
+++ b/ip/xfrm_policy.c
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ static int xfrm_policy_modify(int cmd, unsigned int flags, int argc, char **argv
 	if (req.xpinfo.sel.family == AF_UNSPEC)
 		req.xpinfo.sel.family = AF_INET;
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		exit(2);
 
 	rtnl_close(&rth);
@@ -548,7 +548,7 @@ int xfrm_policy_print(const struct sockaddr_nl *who, struct nlmsghdr *n,
 }
 
 static int xfrm_policy_get_or_delete(int argc, char **argv, int delete,
-				     void *res_nlbuf, size_t res_size)
+				     struct nlmsghdr **answer)
 {
 	struct rtnl_handle rth;
 	struct {
@@ -659,7 +659,7 @@ static int xfrm_policy_get_or_delete(int argc, char **argv, int delete,
 			  (void *)&ctx, ctx.sctx.len);
 	}
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, res_nlbuf, res_size) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, answer) < 0)
 		exit(2);
 
 	rtnl_close(&rth);
@@ -669,21 +669,21 @@ static int xfrm_policy_get_or_delete(int argc, char **argv, int delete,
 
 static int xfrm_policy_delete(int argc, char **argv)
 {
-	return xfrm_policy_get_or_delete(argc, argv, 1, NULL, 0);
+	return xfrm_policy_get_or_delete(argc, argv, 1, NULL);
 }
 
 static int xfrm_policy_get(int argc, char **argv)
 {
-	char buf[NLMSG_BUF_SIZE] = {};
-	struct nlmsghdr *n = (struct nlmsghdr *)buf;
+	struct nlmsghdr *n = NULL;
 
-	xfrm_policy_get_or_delete(argc, argv, 0, n, sizeof(buf));
+	xfrm_policy_get_or_delete(argc, argv, 0, &n);
 
 	if (xfrm_policy_print(NULL, n, (void *)stdout) < 0) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "An error :-)\n");
 		exit(1);
 	}
 
+	free(n);
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -1049,7 +1049,7 @@ static int xfrm_spd_setinfo(int argc, char **argv)
 	if (rtnl_open_byproto(&rth, 0, NETLINK_XFRM) < 0)
 		exit(1);
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		exit(2);
 
 	rtnl_close(&rth);
@@ -1063,22 +1063,23 @@ static int xfrm_spd_getinfo(int argc, char **argv)
 	struct {
 		struct nlmsghdr			n;
 		__u32				flags;
-		char				ans[128];
 	} req = {
 		.n.nlmsg_len = NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(__u32)),
 		.n.nlmsg_flags = NLM_F_REQUEST,
 		.n.nlmsg_type = XFRM_MSG_GETSPDINFO,
 		.flags = 0XFFFFFFFF,
 	};
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer;
 
 	if (rtnl_open_byproto(&rth, 0, NETLINK_XFRM) < 0)
 		exit(1);
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &req.n, sizeof(req)) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &answer) < 0)
 		exit(2);
 
-	print_spdinfo(&req.n, (void *)stdout);
+	print_spdinfo(answer, (void *)stdout);
 
+	free(answer);
 	rtnl_close(&rth);
 
 	return 0;
@@ -1123,7 +1124,7 @@ static int xfrm_policy_flush(int argc, char **argv)
 	if (show_stats > 1)
 		fprintf(stderr, "Flush policy\n");
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		exit(2);
 
 	rtnl_close(&rth);
diff --git a/ip/xfrm_state.c b/ip/xfrm_state.c
index 99fdec2..3e20d6e 100644
--- a/ip/xfrm_state.c
+++ b/ip/xfrm_state.c
@@ -726,7 +726,7 @@ static int xfrm_state_modify(int cmd, unsigned int flags, int argc, char **argv)
 	if (req.xsinfo.family == AF_UNSPEC)
 		req.xsinfo.family = AF_INET;
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		exit(2);
 
 	rtnl_close(&rth);
@@ -757,8 +757,7 @@ static int xfrm_state_allocspi(int argc, char **argv)
 	char *minp = NULL;
 	char *maxp = NULL;
 	struct xfrm_mark mark = {0, 0};
-	char res_buf[NLMSG_BUF_SIZE] = {};
-	struct nlmsghdr *res_n = (struct nlmsghdr *)res_buf;
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer;
 
 	while (argc > 0) {
 		if (strcmp(*argv, "mode") == 0) {
@@ -858,14 +857,15 @@ static int xfrm_state_allocspi(int argc, char **argv)
 		req.xspi.info.family = AF_INET;
 
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, res_n, sizeof(res_buf)) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &answer) < 0)
 		exit(2);
 
-	if (xfrm_state_print(NULL, res_n, (void *)stdout) < 0) {
+	if (xfrm_state_print(NULL, answer, (void *)stdout) < 0) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "An error :-)\n");
 		exit(1);
 	}
 
+	free(answer);
 	rtnl_close(&rth);
 
 	return 0;
@@ -1046,19 +1046,20 @@ static int xfrm_state_get_or_delete(int argc, char **argv, int delete)
 		req.xsid.family = AF_INET;
 
 	if (delete) {
-		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 			exit(2);
 	} else {
-		char buf[NLMSG_BUF_SIZE] = {};
-		struct nlmsghdr *res_n = (struct nlmsghdr *)buf;
+		struct nlmsghdr *answer;
 
-		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, res_n, sizeof(req)) < 0)
+		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &answer) < 0)
 			exit(2);
 
-		if (xfrm_state_print(NULL, res_n, (void *)stdout) < 0) {
+		if (xfrm_state_print(NULL, answer, (void *)stdout) < 0) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "An error :-)\n");
 			exit(1);
 		}
+
+		free(answer);
 	}
 
 	rtnl_close(&rth);
@@ -1314,22 +1315,23 @@ static int xfrm_sad_getinfo(int argc, char **argv)
 	struct {
 		struct nlmsghdr			n;
 		__u32				flags;
-		char				ans[64];
 	} req = {
 		.n.nlmsg_len = NLMSG_LENGTH(sizeof(req.flags)),
 		.n.nlmsg_flags = NLM_F_REQUEST,
 		.n.nlmsg_type = XFRM_MSG_GETSADINFO,
 		.flags = 0XFFFFFFFF,
 	};
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer;
 
 	if (rtnl_open_byproto(&rth, 0, NETLINK_XFRM) < 0)
 		exit(1);
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &req.n, sizeof(req)) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &answer) < 0)
 		exit(2);
 
-	print_sadinfo(&req.n, (void *)stdout);
+	print_sadinfo(answer, (void *)stdout);
 
+	free(answer);
 	rtnl_close(&rth);
 
 	return 0;
@@ -1376,7 +1378,7 @@ static int xfrm_state_flush(int argc, char **argv)
 		fprintf(stderr, "Flush state with XFRM-PROTO value \"%s\"\n",
 			strxf_xfrmproto(req.xsf.proto));
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		exit(2);
 
 	rtnl_close(&rth);
diff --git a/lib/libgenl.c b/lib/libgenl.c
index 50d2d92..bb5fbb5 100644
--- a/lib/libgenl.c
+++ b/lib/libgenl.c
@@ -49,16 +49,21 @@ int genl_resolve_family(struct rtnl_handle *grth, const char *family)
 {
 	GENL_REQUEST(req, 1024, GENL_ID_CTRL, 0, 0, CTRL_CMD_GETFAMILY,
 		     NLM_F_REQUEST);
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer;
+	int fnum;
 
 	addattr_l(&req.n, sizeof(req), CTRL_ATTR_FAMILY_NAME,
 		  family, strlen(family) + 1);
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(grth, &req.n, &req.n, sizeof(req)) < 0) {
+	if (rtnl_talk(grth, &req.n, &answer) < 0) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "Error talking to the kernel\n");
 		return -2;
 	}
 
-	return genl_parse_getfamily(&req.n);
+	fnum = genl_parse_getfamily(answer);
+	free(answer);
+
+	return fnum;
 }
 
 int genl_init_handle(struct rtnl_handle *grth, const char *family,
diff --git a/lib/libnetlink.c b/lib/libnetlink.c
index 1847c0b..4618dc0 100644
--- a/lib/libnetlink.c
+++ b/lib/libnetlink.c
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ static void rtnl_talk_error(struct nlmsghdr *h, struct nlmsgerr *err,
 }
 
 static int __rtnl_talk(struct rtnl_handle *rtnl, struct nlmsghdr *n,
-		       struct nlmsghdr *answer, size_t maxlen,
+		       struct nlmsghdr **answer,
 		       bool show_rtnl_err, nl_ext_ack_fn_t errfn)
 {
 	int status;
@@ -651,9 +651,9 @@ static int __rtnl_talk(struct rtnl_handle *rtnl, struct nlmsghdr *n,
 					fprintf(stderr, "ERROR truncated\n");
 				} else if (!err->error) {
 					if (answer)
-						memcpy(answer, h,
-						       MIN(maxlen, h->nlmsg_len));
-					free(buf);
+						*answer = (struct nlmsghdr *)buf;
+					else
+						free(buf);
 					return 0;
 				}
 
@@ -667,9 +667,7 @@ static int __rtnl_talk(struct rtnl_handle *rtnl, struct nlmsghdr *n,
 			}
 
 			if (answer) {
-				memcpy(answer, h,
-				       MIN(maxlen, h->nlmsg_len));
-				free(buf);
+				*answer = (struct nlmsghdr *)buf;
 				return 0;
 			}
 
@@ -693,22 +691,22 @@ static int __rtnl_talk(struct rtnl_handle *rtnl, struct nlmsghdr *n,
 }
 
 int rtnl_talk(struct rtnl_handle *rtnl, struct nlmsghdr *n,
-	      struct nlmsghdr *answer, size_t maxlen)
+	      struct nlmsghdr **answer)
 {
-	return __rtnl_talk(rtnl, n, answer, maxlen, true, NULL);
+	return __rtnl_talk(rtnl, n, answer, true, NULL);
 }
 
 int rtnl_talk_extack(struct rtnl_handle *rtnl, struct nlmsghdr *n,
-		     struct nlmsghdr *answer, size_t maxlen,
+		     struct nlmsghdr **answer,
 		     nl_ext_ack_fn_t errfn)
 {
-	return __rtnl_talk(rtnl, n, answer, maxlen, true, errfn);
+	return __rtnl_talk(rtnl, n, answer, true, errfn);
 }
 
 int rtnl_talk_suppress_rtnl_errmsg(struct rtnl_handle *rtnl, struct nlmsghdr *n,
-				   struct nlmsghdr *answer, size_t maxlen)
+				   struct nlmsghdr **answer)
 {
-	return __rtnl_talk(rtnl, n, answer, maxlen, false, NULL);
+	return __rtnl_talk(rtnl, n, answer, false, NULL);
 }
 
 int rtnl_listen_all_nsid(struct rtnl_handle *rth)
diff --git a/misc/ss.c b/misc/ss.c
index 6b8eee6..2371004 100644
--- a/misc/ss.c
+++ b/misc/ss.c
@@ -2696,7 +2696,7 @@ static int kill_inet_sock(struct nlmsghdr *h, void *arg, struct sockstat *s)
 		raw->sdiag_raw_protocol = s->raw_prot;
 	}
 
-	return rtnl_talk(rth, &req.nlh, NULL, 0);
+	return rtnl_talk(rth, &req.nlh, NULL);
 }
 
 static int show_one_inet_sock(const struct sockaddr_nl *addr,
diff --git a/tc/m_action.c b/tc/m_action.c
index 402228b..8cbf764 100644
--- a/tc/m_action.c
+++ b/tc/m_action.c
@@ -518,18 +518,18 @@ static int tc_action_gd(int cmd, unsigned int flags, int *argc_p, char ***argv_p
 	tail->rta_len = (void *) NLMSG_TAIL(&req.n) - (void *) tail;
 
 	req.n.nlmsg_seq = rth.dump = ++rth.seq;
-	if (cmd == RTM_GETACTION)
-		ans = &req.n;
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, ans, MAX_MSG) < 0) {
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &ans) < 0) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "We have an error talking to the kernel\n");
 		return 1;
 	}
 
-	if (ans && print_action(NULL, &req.n, (void *)stdout) < 0) {
+	if (cmd == RTM_GETACTION && print_action(NULL, ans, stdout) < 0) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "Dump terminated\n");
+		free(ans);
 		return 1;
 	}
+	free(ans);
 
 	*argc_p = argc;
 	*argv_p = argv;
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ static int tc_action_modify(int cmd, unsigned int flags, int *argc_p, char ***ar
 	}
 	tail->rta_len = (void *) NLMSG_TAIL(&req.n) - (void *) tail;
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0) {
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "We have an error talking to the kernel\n");
 		ret = -1;
 	}
@@ -653,7 +653,7 @@ static int tc_act_list_or_flush(int *argc_p, char ***argv_p, int event)
 		req.n.nlmsg_type = RTM_DELACTION;
 		req.n.nlmsg_flags |= NLM_F_ROOT;
 		req.n.nlmsg_flags |= NLM_F_REQUEST;
-		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0) {
+		if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "We have an error flushing\n");
 			return 1;
 		}
diff --git a/tc/tc_class.c b/tc/tc_class.c
index 1a1f1fa..0214775 100644
--- a/tc/tc_class.c
+++ b/tc/tc_class.c
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ static int tc_class_modify(int cmd, unsigned int flags, int argc, char **argv)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return 2;
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/tc/tc_filter.c b/tc/tc_filter.c
index cf290ae..8dbebf1 100644
--- a/tc/tc_filter.c
+++ b/tc/tc_filter.c
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ static int tc_filter_modify(int cmd, unsigned int flags, int argc, char **argv)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0) {
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "We have an error talking to the kernel\n");
 		return 2;
 	}
@@ -331,6 +331,7 @@ static int tc_filter_get(int cmd, unsigned int flags, int argc, char **argv)
 		.t.tcm_parent = TC_H_UNSPEC,
 		.t.tcm_family = AF_UNSPEC,
 	};
+	struct nlmsghdr *answer;
 	struct filter_util *q = NULL;
 	__u32 prio = 0;
 	__u32 protocol = 0;
@@ -484,13 +485,14 @@ static int tc_filter_get(int cmd, unsigned int flags, int argc, char **argv)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &req.n, MAX_MSG) < 0) {
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, &answer) < 0) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "We have an error talking to the kernel\n");
 		return 2;
 	}
 
-	print_filter(NULL, &req.n, (void *)stdout);
+	print_filter(NULL, answer, (void *)stdout);
 
+	free(answer);
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/tc/tc_qdisc.c b/tc/tc_qdisc.c
index 1e9d909..c52114a 100644
--- a/tc/tc_qdisc.c
+++ b/tc/tc_qdisc.c
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ static int tc_qdisc_modify(int cmd, unsigned int flags, int argc, char **argv)
 		req.t.tcm_ifindex = idx;
 	}
 
-	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL, 0) < 0)
+	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, NULL) < 0)
 		return 2;
 
 	return 0;
-- 
2.9.5

Re: [PATCHv5 iproute2 net-next 2/2] lib/libnetlink: re malloc buff if size is not enough

[David Ahern]

On 10/25/17 7:41 PM, Hangbin Liu wrote:
> +static int rtnl_recvmsg(int fd, struct msghdr *msg, char **answer)
> +{
> +	struct iovec *iov = msg->msg_iov;
> +	char *buf;
> +	int len;
> +
> +	iov->iov_base = NULL;
> +	iov->iov_len = 0;
> +
> +	len = __rtnl_recvmsg(fd, msg, MSG_PEEK | MSG_TRUNC);
> +	if (len < 0)
> +		return len;
> +
> +	buf = malloc(len);
> +	if (!buf) {
> +		fprintf(stderr, "malloc error: not enough buffer\n");
> +		return -ENOMEM;
> +	}
> +
> +	iov->iov_base = buf;
> +	iov->iov_len = len;
> +
> +	len = __rtnl_recvmsg(fd, msg, 0);
> +	if (len < 0) {
> +		free(buf);
> +		return len;
> +	}

The kernel needs a flag that says "give me the message of the buffer is
large enough; if not just PEEK and tell me the length." That would avoid
the double call in most cases.

Re: [PATCHv5 iproute2 net-next 2/2] lib/libnetlink: re malloc buff if size is not enough

[Stephen Hemminger]

On Wed, 25 Oct 2017 20:59:01 -0600
David Ahern <dsahern@gmail.com> wrote:

> On 10/25/17 7:41 PM, Hangbin Liu wrote:
> > +static int rtnl_recvmsg(int fd, struct msghdr *msg, char **answer)
> > +{
> > +	struct iovec *iov = msg->msg_iov;
> > +	char *buf;
> > +	int len;
> > +
> > +	iov->iov_base = NULL;
> > +	iov->iov_len = 0;
> > +
> > +	len = __rtnl_recvmsg(fd, msg, MSG_PEEK | MSG_TRUNC);
> > +	if (len < 0)
> > +		return len;
> > +
> > +	buf = malloc(len);
> > +	if (!buf) {
> > +		fprintf(stderr, "malloc error: not enough buffer\n");
> > +		return -ENOMEM;
> > +	}
> > +
> > +	iov->iov_base = buf;
> > +	iov->iov_len = len;
> > +
> > +	len = __rtnl_recvmsg(fd, msg, 0);
> > +	if (len < 0) {
> > +		free(buf);
> > +		return len;
> > +	}  
> 
> The kernel needs a flag that says "give me the message of the buffer is
> large enough; if not just PEEK and tell me the length." That would avoid
> the double call in most cases.

Actually this has little impact because old code was doing implicit zero
of whole buffer, new code does not.

Re: [PATCHv5 iproute2 net-next 2/2] lib/libnetlink: re malloc buff if size is not enough

[David Ahern]

On 10/26/17 4:24 AM, Stephen Hemminger wrote:
>>
>> The kernel needs a flag that says "give me the message of the buffer is
>> large enough; if not just PEEK and tell me the length." That would avoid
>> the double call in most cases.
> 
> Actually this has little impact because old code was doing implicit zero
> of whole buffer, new code does not.
> 

The patch calls recvmsg twice; libnl does the same thing. It would be
better performance wise to have a flag that allows retrieval of the
message if the supplied buffer is large enough and PEEK semantics if
not. It was really a comment on how we could do better with proper
kernel support.

Re: [PATCHv5 iproute2 net-next 2/2] lib/libnetlink: re malloc buff if size is not enough

[Phil Sutter]

On Thu, Oct 26, 2017 at 09:28:00AM -0600, David Ahern wrote:
> On 10/26/17 4:24 AM, Stephen Hemminger wrote:
> >>
> >> The kernel needs a flag that says "give me the message of the buffer is
> >> large enough; if not just PEEK and tell me the length." That would avoid
> >> the double call in most cases.
> > 
> > Actually this has little impact because old code was doing implicit zero
> > of whole buffer, new code does not.
> > 
> 
> The patch calls recvmsg twice; libnl does the same thing. It would be
> better performance wise to have a flag that allows retrieval of the
> message if the supplied buffer is large enough and PEEK semantics if
> not. It was really a comment on how we could do better with proper
> kernel support.

Doesn't MSG_TRUNC without MSG_PEEK do just that?

Cheers, Phil

Re: [PATCHv5 iproute2 net-next 2/2] lib/libnetlink: re malloc buff if size is not enough

[David Ahern]

On 10/26/17 9:33 AM, Phil Sutter wrote:
> On Thu, Oct 26, 2017 at 09:28:00AM -0600, David Ahern wrote:
>> On 10/26/17 4:24 AM, Stephen Hemminger wrote:
>>>>
>>>> The kernel needs a flag that says "give me the message of the buffer is
>>>> large enough; if not just PEEK and tell me the length." That would avoid
>>>> the double call in most cases.
>>>
>>> Actually this has little impact because old code was doing implicit zero
>>> of whole buffer, new code does not.
>>>
>>
>> The patch calls recvmsg twice; libnl does the same thing. It would be
>> better performance wise to have a flag that allows retrieval of the
>> message if the supplied buffer is large enough and PEEK semantics if
>> not. It was really a comment on how we could do better with proper
>> kernel support.
> 
> Doesn't MSG_TRUNC without MSG_PEEK do just that?

MSG_TRUNC returns the actual message length if it is greater than the
buffer. The message was dequeued and what could be copied into the
supplied buffer is copied, but that means the returned message is truncated.

Re: [PATCHv5 iproute2 net-next 2/2] lib/libnetlink: re malloc buff if size is not enough

[Phil Sutter]

On Thu, Oct 26, 2017 at 09:42:46AM -0600, David Ahern wrote:
> On 10/26/17 9:33 AM, Phil Sutter wrote:
> > On Thu, Oct 26, 2017 at 09:28:00AM -0600, David Ahern wrote:
> >> On 10/26/17 4:24 AM, Stephen Hemminger wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> The kernel needs a flag that says "give me the message of the buffer is
> >>>> large enough; if not just PEEK and tell me the length." That would avoid
> >>>> the double call in most cases.
> >>>
> >>> Actually this has little impact because old code was doing implicit zero
> >>> of whole buffer, new code does not.
> >>>
> >>
> >> The patch calls recvmsg twice; libnl does the same thing. It would be
> >> better performance wise to have a flag that allows retrieval of the
> >> message if the supplied buffer is large enough and PEEK semantics if
> >> not. It was really a comment on how we could do better with proper
> >> kernel support.
> > 
> > Doesn't MSG_TRUNC without MSG_PEEK do just that?
> 
> MSG_TRUNC returns the actual message length if it is greater than the
> buffer. The message was dequeued and what could be copied into the
> supplied buffer is copied, but that means the returned message is truncated.

Ah, so one would have to resend the request then. Stupid me. :)

Thanks, Phil

Re: [PATCHv5 iproute2 net-next 2/2] lib/libnetlink: re malloc buff if size is not enough

[Eric Dumazet]

On 10/25/2017 06:41 PM, Hangbin Liu wrote:
> With commit 72b365e8e0fd ("libnetlink: Double the dump buffer size")
> we doubled the buffer size to support more VFs. But the VFs number is
> increasing all the time. Some customers even use more than 200 VFs now.
> 
> We could not double it everytime when the buffer is not enough. Let's just
> not hard code the buffer size and malloc the correct number when running.
> 
> Introduce function rtnl_recvmsg() to always return a newly allocated buffer.
> The caller need to free it after using.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Hangbin Liu <liuhangbin@gmail.com>
> Signed-off-by: Phil Sutter <phil@nwl.cc>
> ---
>  lib/libnetlink.c | 114 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-----------------
>  1 file changed, 80 insertions(+), 34 deletions(-)
> 
> diff --git a/lib/libnetlink.c b/lib/libnetlink.c
> index be7ac86..1847c0b 100644
> --- a/lib/libnetlink.c
> +++ b/lib/libnetlink.c
> @@ -402,6 +402,64 @@ static void rtnl_dump_error(const struct rtnl_handle *rth,
>  	}
>  }
>  
> +static int __rtnl_recvmsg(int fd, struct msghdr *msg, int flags)
> +{
> +	int len;
> +
> +	do {
> +		len = recvmsg(fd, msg, flags);
> +	} while (len < 0 && (errno == EINTR || errno == EAGAIN));
> +
> +	if (len < 0) {
> +		fprintf(stderr, "netlink receive error %s (%d)\n",
> +			strerror(errno), errno);
> +		return -errno;
> +	}
> +
> +	if (len == 0) {
> +		fprintf(stderr, "EOF on netlink\n");
> +		return -ENODATA;
> +	}
> +
> +	return len;
> +}
> +
> +static int rtnl_recvmsg(int fd, struct msghdr *msg, char **answer)
> +{
> +	struct iovec *iov = msg->msg_iov;
> +	char *buf;
> +	int len;
> +
> +	iov->iov_base = NULL;
> +	iov->iov_len = 0;
> +
> +	len = __rtnl_recvmsg(fd, msg, MSG_PEEK | MSG_TRUNC);
> +	if (len < 0)
> +		return len;
> +
> +	buf = malloc(len);
> +	if (!buf) {
> +		fprintf(stderr, "malloc error: not enough buffer\n");
> +		return -ENOMEM;
> +	}
> +
> +	iov->iov_base = buf;
> +	iov->iov_len = len;
> +
> +	len = __rtnl_recvmsg(fd, msg, 0);
> +	if (len < 0) {
> +		free(buf);
> +		return len;
> +	}
> +
> +	if (answer)
> +		*answer = buf;
> +	else
> +		free(buf);
> +
> +	return len;
> +}
> +


This patch brings a serious performance penalty.

ss command now uses two system calls per ~4KB worth of data

recvmsg(3, {msg_name(12)={sa_family=AF_NETLINK, pid=0, groups=00000000}, msg_iov(1)=[{NULL, 0}], msg_controllen=0, msg_flags=MSG_TRUNC}, MSG_PEEK|MSG_TRUNC) = 3328 <0.000120>
recvmsg(3, {msg_name(12)={sa_family=AF_NETLINK, pid=0, groups=00000000}, msg_iov(1)=[{"h\0\0\0\24\0\2\0@\342\1\0\322\0\6\0\n\1\1\0\250\253\276@&\7\370\260\200\231\16\6"..., 3328}], msg_controllen=0, msg_flags=0}, 0) = 3328 <0.000108>
recvmsg(3, {msg_name(12)={sa_family=AF_NETLINK, pid=0, groups=00000000}, msg_iov(1)=[{NULL, 0}], msg_controllen=0, msg_flags=MSG_TRUNC}, MSG_PEEK|MSG_TRUNC) = 3328 <0.000086>
recvmsg(3, {msg_name(12)={sa_family=AF_NETLINK, pid=0, groups=00000000}, msg_iov(1)=[{"h\0\0\0\24\0\2\0@\342\1\0\322\0\6\0\n\10\2\0002A\266S&\7\370\260\200\231\16\6"..., 3328}], msg_controllen=0, msg_flags=0}, 0) = 3328 <0.000121>


So we are back to a very pessimistic situation.

Re: [PATCHv5 iproute2 net-next 2/2] lib/libnetlink: re malloc buff if size is not enough

[Eric Dumazet]

On 02/12/2019 03:32 PM, Eric Dumazet wrote:
> 

> 
> This patch brings a serious performance penalty.
> 
> ss command now uses two system calls per ~4KB worth of data
> 
> recvmsg(3, {msg_name(12)={sa_family=AF_NETLINK, pid=0, groups=00000000}, msg_iov(1)=[{NULL, 0}], msg_controllen=0, msg_flags=MSG_TRUNC}, MSG_PEEK|MSG_TRUNC) = 3328 <0.000120>
> recvmsg(3, {msg_name(12)={sa_family=AF_NETLINK, pid=0, groups=00000000}, msg_iov(1)=[{"h\0\0\0\24\0\2\0@\342\1\0\322\0\6\0\n\1\1\0\250\253\276@&\7\370\260\200\231\16\6"..., 3328}], msg_controllen=0, msg_flags=0}, 0) = 3328 <0.000108>
> recvmsg(3, {msg_name(12)={sa_family=AF_NETLINK, pid=0, groups=00000000}, msg_iov(1)=[{NULL, 0}], msg_controllen=0, msg_flags=MSG_TRUNC}, MSG_PEEK|MSG_TRUNC) = 3328 <0.000086>
> recvmsg(3, {msg_name(12)={sa_family=AF_NETLINK, pid=0, groups=00000000}, msg_iov(1)=[{"h\0\0\0\24\0\2\0@\342\1\0\322\0\6\0\n\10\2\0002A\266S&\7\370\260\200\231\16\6"..., 3328}], msg_controllen=0, msg_flags=0}, 0) = 3328 <0.000121>
> 
> 
> So we are back to a very pessimistic situation.
> 

I guess this patch will solve the issue :

diff --git a/lib/libnetlink.c b/lib/libnetlink.c
index ced33728777a17e0905e76acb904ac4709707488..309b5b3787e3d8f8c47f035d270ae2b4df01703e 100644
--- a/lib/libnetlink.c
+++ b/lib/libnetlink.c
@@ -442,6 +442,8 @@ static int rtnl_recvmsg(int fd, struct msghdr *msg, char **answer)
        if (len < 0)
                return len;
 
+       if (len < 32768)
+               len = 32768;
        buf = malloc(len);
        if (!buf) {
                fprintf(stderr, "malloc error: not enough buffer\n");