vishvananda/netns

Simple network namespace handling for go.

Go

447

84 commits

updated May 20, 2026

See the code

README

netns - network namespaces in go

The netns package provides an ultra-simple interface for handling network namespaces in go. Changing namespaces requires elevated privileges, so in most cases this code needs to be run as root.

Local Build and Test

You can use go get command:

go get github.com/vishvananda/netns

Testing (requires root):

sudo -E go test github.com/vishvananda/netns

Example

package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "net"
    "runtime"

    "github.com/vishvananda/netns"
)

func main() {
    // Lock the OS Thread so we don't accidentally switch namespaces
    runtime.LockOSThread()
    defer runtime.UnlockOSThread()

    // Save the current network namespace
    origns, _ := netns.Get()
    defer origns.Close()

    // Create a new network namespace
    newns, _ := netns.New()
    defer newns.Close()

    // Do something with the network namespace
    ifaces, _ := net.Interfaces()
    fmt.Printf("Interfaces: %v\n", ifaces)

    // Switch back to the original namespace
    netns.Set(origns)
}

Significant stargazers

Jess Frazelle

13,862 followers · starred Jan 2016

Bjorn Neergaard

283 followers · starred Jan 2023

sky

243 followers · starred Apr 2022

Máximo Cuadros

411 followers · starred Apr 2016

vishvananda/netns

Simple network namespace handling for go.

Go

447

84 commits

updated May 20, 2026

See the code

README

netns - network namespaces in go

The netns package provides an ultra-simple interface for handling network namespaces in go. Changing namespaces requires elevated privileges, so in most cases this code needs to be run as root.

Local Build and Test

You can use go get command:

go get github.com/vishvananda/netns

Testing (requires root):

sudo -E go test github.com/vishvananda/netns

Example

package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "net"
    "runtime"

    "github.com/vishvananda/netns"
)

func main() {
    // Lock the OS Thread so we don't accidentally switch namespaces
    runtime.LockOSThread()
    defer runtime.UnlockOSThread()

    // Save the current network namespace
    origns, _ := netns.Get()
    defer origns.Close()

    // Create a new network namespace
    newns, _ := netns.New()
    defer newns.Close()

    // Do something with the network namespace
    ifaces, _ := net.Interfaces()
    fmt.Printf("Interfaces: %v\n", ifaces)

    // Switch back to the original namespace
    netns.Set(origns)
}

Significant stargazers

Jess Frazelle

13,862 followers · starred Jan 2016

Bjorn Neergaard

283 followers · starred Jan 2023

sky

243 followers · starred Apr 2022

Máximo Cuadros

411 followers · starred Apr 2016