# Linux 7.4 networking adds hardware pacing offload, Meta MPNIC driver, 70% BIG TCP gains

> **Key takeaway:** Linux 7.4's networking merge introduces hardware pacing offload for SmartNICs, a new Meta second-generation NIC driver, and up to 70% throughput improvements for mixed BIG TCP workloads.

**Published:** 2026-10-29T12:55:00+00:00 
**Source:** Phoronix Benchmarks & Drivers 
**Category:** kernel-os 
**Canonical URL:** https://fosswire.org/news/linux-74-networking-adds-hardware-pacing-offload-meta-mpnic-.html 

## Summary
The Linux 7.4 merge window has integrated substantial wired and wireless networking improvements, headlined by hardware pacing offload functionality that delegates packet timing control to NICs and SmartNICs via a new device attribute. The Intel IDPF driver is the first to implement this capability. Performance optimizations include up to 70% throughput gains for mixed BIG TCP and standard TCP paths, plus cache-efficiency and contention-reduction improvements in TCP/IP processing.

New hardware support spans multiple architectures and vendors. Driver additions include the Nebula Matrix NIX, Meta's second-generation MPNIC (with its first-generation FBNIC gaining large IO_uring zero-copy receive buffers), and expanded Qualcomm, Synopsys STMMAC, Realtek, and Mediatek coverage. Wireless work continues on WiFi Aware and WiFi 8 foundations, while Bluetooth gains support for Mediatek MT7928 and Qualcomm QCC2072 chipsets.

## Core networking and driver changes in Linux 7.4
- **Hardware pacing offload:** New `pacing_offload` network device attribute allows NICs/SmartNICs to manage packet transmission timing directly; IDPF driver is the initial implementation.
- **BIG TCP throughput:** Mixed BIG TCP and non-big TCP code paths show up to 70% throughput improvement from core networking optimizations.
- **TCP/IP performance:** Cache usage efficiency improvements and reduced contention in TCP/IP stack processing.
- **Meta NIC evolution:** New MPNIC driver for Meta's second-generation network interface card; existing FBNIC driver gains large IO_uring zero-copy receive buffer support.
- **Platform expansion:** STMMAC driver adds Rockchip RK3568 SGMII, Allwinner H616 EMAC1, UltraRISC DP1000, and Qualcomm sa8255p; Realtek RTW88 replaces staging rtl8723bs driver for RTL8723BS; Qualcomm PPE gains IPQ5424 support.

## Why it matters
Data center and cloud operators running SmartNICs will benefit from reduced host CPU overhead through pacing offload, while high-throughput applications using BIG TCP see substantial performance gains without hardware changes. The Meta MPNIC driver and IO_uring zero-copy improvements reflect continued investment by hyperscalers in upstream Linux networking, directly benefiting distribution kernels and containerized workloads. Embedded and SBC users gain broader ARM and RISC-V platform support through the STMMAC and Qualcomm driver expansions.