[Click] user-level vs. kernel-level Click packet management

[betamaz]

Hi,

When a click elements reads a packet from a device (eth0) and sends it
on one of its output, how does it save the packet infromation? I'm
trying to understand if when there are multiple outputs, if each
output gets a copy of the packet and processes it accordingly (ie.
send it off to a que, to another device, filter...).

In the documentation, the userlevel fromdevice specifies that "Reads
packets from the kernel " whereas the kernel level fromdevice says
"Intercepts all packets received by the Linux network interface".  I'm
guessing that the first one means, userlevel makes copies of the
packet, while kernel level reads off the device and just handles the
packet itself.  Is this correct?  If the kernel level does grab the
packet, can the same packet be forwarded more then once on different
outputs (i'm just curious, not sure if there are any practical reasons
to do so)?

Thanks for your help,
Bita.