tests: Use socat instead of netcat

Commit 41c02e10 ("tests: Use nmap-ncat instead of openbsd netcat for pasta
tests") updated the pasta tests to use the nmap version of ncat instead of
the openbsd version, for greater portability.

For some upcoming changes, however, we'll be wanting to use socat.
"socat" can do everything "ncat" can and more, so let's move all the
tests using host tools (either directly on the host or via mbuto
generated images) to using socat instead.

Signed-off-by: David Gibson <david@gibson.dropbear.id.au>
[sbrivio: Fix a typo in port specification, 31337 instead of x31337]
Signed-off-by: Stefano Brivio <sbrivio@redhat.com>

3 files changed, 116 insertions, 116 deletions

diff --git a/test/tcp/passt b/test/tcp/passt
index 4baa610..6e65137 100644
--- a/test/tcp/passt
+++ b/test/tcp/passt
@@ -11,75 +11,75 @@
 # Copyright (c) 2021 Red Hat GmbH
 # Author: Stefano Brivio <sbrivio@redhat.com>
 
-gtools	nc ip jq cat md5sum cut
-htools	dd nc ip jq cat md5sum cut
+gtools	socat ip jq md5sum cut
+htools	dd socat ip jq md5sum cut
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: host to guest: big transfer
 temp	TEMP_BIG
-guestb	nc -4 -l 10001 > test_big.bin
+guestb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10001,reuseaddr OPEN:test_big.bin,create,trunc
 host	dd if=/dev/urandom bs=1M count=10 > __TEMP_BIG__
-host	cat __TEMP_BIG__ | nc -N 127.0.0.1 10001
+host	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__ TCP4:127.0.0.1:10001
 guestw
 hout	HOST_MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 gout	GUEST_MD5_BIG md5sum test_big.bin | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_BIG__" = "__HOST_MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: guest to host: big transfer
-hostb	nc -4 -l 10003 > __TEMP_BIG__
+hostb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10003,bind=127.0.0.1,reuseaddr OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__,create,trunc
 gout	GW ip -j -4 route show|jq -rM '.[] | select(.dst == "default").gateway'
-guest	cat test_big.bin | nc -N __GW__ 10003
+guest	socat -u OPEN:test_big.bin TCP4:__GW__:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_BIG__" = "__HOST_MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: host to guest: small transfer
 temp	TEMP_SMALL
-guestb	nc -4 -l 10001 > test_small.bin
+guestb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10001,reuseaddr OPEN:test_small.bin,create,trunc
 host	dd if=/dev/urandom bs=2k count=1 > __TEMP_SMALL__
-host	cat __TEMP_SMALL__ | nc -N 127.0.0.1 10001
+host	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__ TCP4:127.0.0.1:10001
 guestw
 hout	HOST_MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 gout	GUEST_MD5_SMALL md5sum test_small.bin | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__HOST_MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: guest to host: small transfer
-hostb	nc -4 -l 10003 > __TEMP_SMALL__
+hostb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10003,bind=127.0.0.1,reuseaddr OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__,create,trunc
 sleep	1
-guest	cat test_small.bin | nc -N __GW__ 10003
+guest	socat -u OPEN:test_small.bin TCP4:__GW__:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__HOST_MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: host to guest: big transfer
-guestb	nc -6 -l 10001 > test_big.bin
+guestb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10001,reuseaddr OPEN:test_big.bin,create,trunc
 sleep	1
-host	cat __TEMP_BIG__ | nc -N ::1 10001
+host	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__ TCP6:[::1]:10001
 guestw
 gout	GUEST_MD5_BIG md5sum test_big.bin | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_BIG__" = "__HOST_MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: guest to host: big transfer
-hostb	nc -6 -l 10003 > __TEMP_BIG__
+hostb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10003,bind=[::1],reuseaddr OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__,create,trunc
 gout	GW6 ip -j -6 route show|jq -rM '.[] | select(.dst == "default").gateway'
 gout	IFNAME ip -j link show | jq -rM '.[] | select(.link_type == "ether").ifname'
-guest	cat test_big.bin | nc -N __GW6__%__IFNAME__ 10003
+guest	socat -u OPEN:test_big.bin TCP6:[__GW6__%__IFNAME__]:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_BIG__" = "__HOST_MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: host to guest: small transfer
-guestb	nc -6 -l 10001 > test_small.bin
+guestb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10001,reuseaddr OPEN:test_small.bin,create,trunc
 sleep	1
-host	cat __TEMP_SMALL__ | nc -N ::1 10001
+host	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__ TCP6:[::1]:10001
 guestw
 gout	GUEST_MD5_SMALL md5sum test_small.bin | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__HOST_MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: guest to host: small transfer
-hostb	nc -6 -l 10003 > __TEMP_SMALL__
+hostb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10003,bind=[::1],reuseaddr OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__,create,trunc
 sleep	1
-guest	cat test_small.bin | nc -N __GW6__%__IFNAME__ 10003
+guest	socat -u OPEN:test_small.bin TCP6:[__GW6__%__IFNAME__]:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__HOST_MD5_SMALL__" ]
diff --git a/test/tcp/passt_in_ns b/test/tcp/passt_in_ns
index 2a11e0b..ab22485 100644
--- a/test/tcp/passt_in_ns
+++ b/test/tcp/passt_in_ns
@@ -11,15 +11,15 @@
 # Copyright (c) 2021 Red Hat GmbH
 # Author: Stefano Brivio <sbrivio@redhat.com>
 
-gtools	nc ip jq cat md5sum cut
-htools	dd nc ip jq cat md5sum cut
-nstools	nc ip jq cat md5sum cut
+gtools	socat ip jq md5sum cut
+htools	dd socat ip jq md5sum cut
+nstools	socat ip jq md5sum cut
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: host to guest: big transfer
 temp	TEMP_BIG
-guestb	nc -4 -l 10001 > test_big.bin
-host	dd if=/dev/urandom bs=1M count=10 > __TEMP_BIG__
-host	cat __TEMP_BIG__ | nc -N 127.0.0.1 10001
+guestb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10001 OPEN:test_big.bin,create,trunc
+host	dd if=/dev/urandom bs=1M count=10 of=__TEMP_BIG__
+host	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__ TCP4:127.0.0.1:10001
 guestw
 hout	MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 gout	GUEST_MD5_BIG md5sum test_big.bin | cut -d' ' -f1
@@ -27,63 +27,63 @@ check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: host to ns: big transfer
 temp	TEMP_NS_BIG
-nsb	nc -4 -l 10002 > __TEMP_NS_BIG__
-host	cat __TEMP_BIG__ | nc -N 127.0.0.1 10002
+nsb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10002 OPEN:__TEMP_NS_BIG__,create,trunc
+host	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__ TCP4:127.0.0.1:10002
 nsw
 nsout	NS_MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_NS_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__NS_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: guest to host: big transfer
-hostb	nc -4 -l 10003 > __TEMP_BIG__
+hostb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10003 OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__,create,trunc
 gout	GW ip -j -4 route show|jq -rM '.[] | select(.dst == "default").gateway'
-guest	cat test_big.bin | nc -N __GW__ 10003
+guest	socat -u OPEN:test_big.bin TCP4:__GW__:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: guest to ns: big transfer
-nsb	nc -4 -l 10002 > __TEMP_BIG__
-guest	cat test_big.bin | nc -N __GW__ 10002
+nsb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10002 OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__,create,trunc
+guest	socat -u OPEN:test_big.bin TCP4:__GW__:10002
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: ns to host (spliced): big transfer
 sleep	1
-hostb	nc -4 -l 10003 > __TEMP_BIG__
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_BIG__ | nc -N 127.0.0.1 10003
+hostb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10003 OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__,create,trunc
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_BIG__ TCP4:127.0.0.1:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: ns to host (via tap): big transfer
-hostb	nc -4 -l 10003 > __TEMP_BIG__
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_BIG__ | nc -N __GW__ 10003
+hostb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10003 OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__,create,trunc
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_BIG__ TCP4:__GW__:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: ns to guest (using loopback address): big transfer
-guestb	nc -4 -l 10001 > test_big.bin
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_BIG__ | nc -N 127.0.0.1 10001
+guestb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10001 OPEN:test_big.bin,create,trunc
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_BIG__ TCP4:127.0.0.1:10001
 guestw
 gout	GUEST_MD5_BIG md5sum test_big.bin | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: ns to guest (using namespace address): big transfer
-guestb	nc -4 -l 10001 > test_big.bin
+guestb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10001 OPEN:test_big.bin,create,trunc
 nsout	IFNAME ip -j link show | jq -rM '.[] | select(.link_type == "ether").ifname'
 nsout	ADDR ip -j -4 addr show|jq -rM '.[] | select(.ifname == "__IFNAME__").addr_info[0].local'
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_BIG__ | nc -N __ADDR__ 10001
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_BIG__ TCP4:__ADDR__:10001
 guestw
 gout	GUEST_MD5_BIG md5sum test_big.bin | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: host to guest: small transfer
 temp	TEMP_SMALL
-guestb	nc -4 -l 10001 > test_small.bin
-host	dd if=/dev/urandom bs=2k count=100 > __TEMP_SMALL__
-host	cat __TEMP_SMALL__ | nc -N 127.0.0.1 10001
+guestb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10001 OPEN:test_small.bin,create,trunc
+host	dd if=/dev/urandom bs=2k count=100 of=__TEMP_SMALL__
+host	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__ TCP4:127.0.0.1:10001
 guestw
 hout	MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 gout	GUEST_MD5_SMALL md5sum test_small.bin | cut -d' ' -f1
@@ -91,171 +91,171 @@ check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: host to ns: small transfer
 temp	TEMP_NS_SMALL
-nsb	nc -4 -l 10002 > __TEMP_NS_SMALL__
-host	cat __TEMP_SMALL__ | nc -N 127.0.0.1 10002
+nsb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10002 OPEN:__TEMP_NS_SMALL__,create,trunc
+host	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__ TCP4:127.0.0.1:10002
 nsw
 nsout	NS_MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_NS_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__NS_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: guest to host: small transfer
-hostb	nc -4 -l 10003 > __TEMP_SMALL__
+hostb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10003 OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__,create,trunc
 gout	GW ip -j -4 route show|jq -rM '.[] | select(.dst == "default").gateway'
-guest	cat test_small.bin | nc -N __GW__ 10003
+guest	socat -u OPEN:test_small.bin TCP4:__GW__:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: guest to ns: small transfer
-nsb	nc -4 -l 10002 > __TEMP_SMALL__
-guest	cat test_small.bin | nc -N __GW__ 10002
+nsb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10002 OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__,create,trunc
+guest	socat -u OPEN:test_small.bin TCP4:__GW__:10002
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: ns to host (spliced): small transfer
 sleep	1
-hostb	nc -4 -l 10003 > __TEMP_SMALL__
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_SMALL__ | nc -N 127.0.0.1 10003
+hostb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10003 OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__,create,trunc
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_SMALL__ TCP4:127.0.0.1:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: ns to host (via tap): small transfer
-hostb	nc -4 -l 10003 > __TEMP_SMALL__
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_SMALL__ | nc -N __GW__ 10003
+hostb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10003 OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__,create,trunc
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_SMALL__ TCP4:__GW__:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: ns to guest (using loopback address): small transfer
-guestb	nc -4 -l 10001 > test_small.bin
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_SMALL__ | nc -N 127.0.0.1 10001
+guestb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10001 OPEN:test_small.bin,create,trunc
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_SMALL__ TCP4:127.0.0.1:10001
 guestw
 gout	GUEST_MD5_SMALL md5sum test_small.bin | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: ns to guest (using namespace address): small transfer
-guestb	nc -4 -l 10001 > test_small.bin
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_SMALL__ | nc -N __ADDR__ 10001
+guestb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10001 OPEN:test_small.bin,create,trunc
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_SMALL__ TCP4:__ADDR__:10001
 guestw
 gout	GUEST_MD5_SMALL md5sum test_small.bin | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: host to guest: big transfer
-guestb	nc -6 -l 10001 > test_big.bin
-host	cat __TEMP_BIG__ | nc -N ::1 10001
+guestb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10001 OPEN:test_big.bin,create,trunc
+host	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__ TCP6:[::1]:10001
 guestw
 gout	GUEST_MD5_BIG md5sum test_big.bin | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: host to ns: big transfer
-nsb	nc -6 -l 10002 > __TEMP_NS_BIG__
-host	cat __TEMP_BIG__ | nc -N ::1 10002
+nsb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10002 OPEN:__TEMP_NS_BIG__,create,trunc
+host	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__ TCP6:[::1]:10002
 nsw
 nsout	NS_MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_NS_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__NS_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: guest to host: big transfer
-hostb	nc -6 -l 10003 > __TEMP_BIG__
+hostb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10003 OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__,create,trunc
 gout	GW6 ip -j -6 route show|jq -rM '.[] | select(.dst == "default").gateway'
 gout	IFNAME ip -j link show | jq -rM '.[] | select(.link_type == "ether").ifname'
-guest	cat test_big.bin | nc -N __GW6__%__IFNAME__ 10003
+guest	socat -u OPEN:test_big.bin TCP6:[__GW6__%__IFNAME__]:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: guest to ns: big transfer
-nsb	nc -6 -l 10002 > __TEMP_BIG__
-guest	cat test_big.bin | nc -N __GW6__%__IFNAME__ 10002
+nsb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10002 OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__,create,trunc
+guest	socat -u OPEN:test_big.bin TCP6:[__GW6__%__IFNAME__]:10002
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: ns to host (spliced): big transfer
-hostb	nc -6 -l 10003 > __TEMP_BIG__
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_BIG__ | nc -N ::1 10003
+hostb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10003 OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__,create,trunc
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_BIG__ TCP6:[::1]:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: ns to host (via tap): big transfer
-hostb	nc -6 -l 10003 > __TEMP_BIG__
+hostb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10003 OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__,create,trunc
 nsout	IFNAME ip -j link show | jq -rM '.[] | select(.link_type == "ether").ifname'
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_BIG__ | nc -N __GW6__%__IFNAME__ 10003
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_BIG__ TCP6:[__GW6__%__IFNAME__]:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: ns to guest (using loopback address): big transfer
-guestb	nc -6 -l 10001 > test_big.bin
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_BIG__ | nc -N ::1 10001
+guestb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10001 OPEN:test_big.bin,create,trunc
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_BIG__ TCP6:[::1]:10001
 guestw
 gout	GUEST_MD5_BIG md5sum test_big.bin | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: ns to guest (using namespace address): big transfer
-guestb	nc -6 -l 10001 > test_big.bin
+guestb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10001 OPEN:test_big.bin,create,trunc
 nsout	ADDR6 ip -j -6 addr show|jq -rM '.[] | select(.ifname == "__IFNAME__").addr_info[0].local'
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_BIG__ | nc -N __ADDR6__ 10001
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_BIG__ TCP6:[__ADDR6__]:10001
 guestw
 gout	GUEST_MD5_BIG md5sum test_big.bin | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: host to guest: small transfer
-guestb	nc -6 -l 10001 > test_small.bin
-host	cat __TEMP_SMALL__ | nc -N ::1 10001
+guestb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10001 OPEN:test_small.bin,create,trunc
+host	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__ TCP6:[::1]:10001
 guestw
 gout	GUEST_MD5_SMALL md5sum test_small.bin | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: host to ns: small transfer
-nsb	nc -6 -l 10002 > __TEMP_NS_SMALL__
-host	cat __TEMP_SMALL__ | nc -N ::1 10002
+nsb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10002 OPEN:__TEMP_NS_SMALL__,create,trunc
+host	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__ TCP6:[::1]:10002
 nsw
 nsout	NS_MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_NS_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__NS_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: guest to host: small transfer
-hostb	nc -6 -l 10003 > __TEMP_SMALL__
+hostb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10003 OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__,create,trunc
 gout	GW6 ip -j -6 route show|jq -rM '.[] | select(.dst == "default").gateway'
 gout	IFNAME ip -j link show | jq -rM '.[] | select(.link_type == "ether").ifname'
-guest	cat test_small.bin | nc -N __GW6__%__IFNAME__ 10003
+guest	socat -u OPEN:test_small.bin TCP6:[__GW6__%__IFNAME__]:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: guest to ns: small transfer
-nsb	nc -6 -l 10002 > __TEMP_SMALL__
-guest	cat test_small.bin | nc -N __GW6__%__IFNAME__ 10002
+nsb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10002 OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__
+guest	socat -u OPEN:test_small.bin TCP6:[__GW6__%__IFNAME__]:10002
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: ns to host (spliced): small transfer
-hostb	nc -6 -l 10003 > __TEMP_SMALL__
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_SMALL__ | nc -N ::1 10003
+hostb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10003 OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__,create,trunc
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_SMALL__ TCP6:[::1]:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: ns to host (via tap): small transfer
-hostb	nc -6 -l 10003 > __TEMP_SMALL__
+hostb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10003 OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__,create,trunc
 nsout	IFNAME ip -j link show | jq -rM '.[] | select(.link_type == "ether").ifname'
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_SMALL__ | nc -N __GW6__%__IFNAME__ 10003
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_SMALL__ TCP6:[__GW6__%__IFNAME__]:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: ns to guest (using loopback address): small transfer
-guestb	nc -6 -l 10001 > test_small.bin
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_SMALL__ | nc -N ::1 10001
+guestb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10001 OPEN:test_small.bin,create,trunc
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_SMALL__ TCP6:[::1]:10001
 guestw
 gout	GUEST_MD5_SMALL md5sum test_small.bin | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: ns to guest (using namespace address): small transfer
-guestb	nc -6 -l 10001 > test_small.bin
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_SMALL__ | nc -N __ADDR6__ 10001
+guestb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10001 OPEN:test_small.bin,create,trunc
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_SMALL__ TCP6:[__ADDR6__]:10001
 guestw
 gout	GUEST_MD5_SMALL md5sum test_small.bin | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__GUEST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
diff --git a/test/tcp/pasta b/test/tcp/pasta
index 068393a..0d6c729 100644
--- a/test/tcp/pasta
+++ b/test/tcp/pasta
@@ -11,31 +11,31 @@
 # Copyright (c) 2021 Red Hat GmbH
 # Author: Stefano Brivio <sbrivio@redhat.com>
 
-htools	dd ncat ip jq cat md5sum cut
-nstools	ncat ip jq cat md5sum cut
+htools	dd socat ip jq md5sum cut
+nstools	socat ip jq md5sum cut
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: host to ns: big transfer
 temp	TEMP_BIG
 temp	TEMP_NS_BIG
-nsb	ncat -4 -l 127.0.0.1 10002 > __TEMP_NS_BIG__
-host	dd if=/dev/urandom bs=1M count=10 > __TEMP_BIG__
-host	cat __TEMP_BIG__ | ncat 127.0.0.1 10002
+nsb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10002,bind=127.0.0.1 OPEN:__TEMP_NS_BIG__,create,trunc
+host	dd if=/dev/urandom bs=1M count=10 of=__TEMP_BIG__
+host	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__ TCP4:127.0.0.1:10002
 nsw
 hout	MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 nsout	NS_MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_NS_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__NS_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: ns to host (spliced): big transfer
-hostb	ncat -4 -l 127.0.0.1 10003 > __TEMP_BIG__
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_BIG__ | ncat 127.0.0.1 10003
+hostb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10003,bind=127.0.0.1 OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__,create,trunc
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_BIG__ TCP4:127.0.0.1:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: ns to host (via tap): big transfer
-hostb	ncat -4 -l 0.0.0.0 10003 > __TEMP_BIG__
+hostb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10003 OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__,create,trunc
 nsout	GW ip -j -4 route show|jq -rM '.[] | select(.dst == "default").gateway'
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_BIG__ | ncat __GW__ 10003
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_BIG__ TCP4:__GW__:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
@@ -43,50 +43,50 @@ check	[ "__HOST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 test	TCP/IPv4: host to ns: small transfer
 temp	TEMP_SMALL
 temp	TEMP_NS_SMALL
-nsb	ncat -4 -l 127.0.0.1 10002 > __TEMP_NS_SMALL__
-host	dd if=/dev/urandom bs=2k count=1 > __TEMP_SMALL__
-host	cat __TEMP_SMALL__ | ncat 127.0.0.1 10002
+nsb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10002,bind=127.0.0.1 OPEN:__TEMP_NS_SMALL__,create,trunc
+host	dd if=/dev/urandom bs=2k count=1 of=__TEMP_SMALL__
+host	socat OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__ TCP4:127.0.0.1:10002
 nsw
 hout	MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 nsout	NS_MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_NS_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__NS_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: ns to host (spliced): small transfer
-hostb	ncat -4 -l 127.0.0.1 10003 > __TEMP_SMALL__
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_SMALL__ | ncat 127.0.0.1 10003
+hostb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10003,bind=127.0.0.1 OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__,create,trunc
+ns	socat OPEN:__TEMP_NS_SMALL__ TCP4:127.0.0.1:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv4: ns to host (via tap): small transfer
-hostb	ncat -4 -l 0.0.0.0 10003 > __TEMP_SMALL__
+hostb	socat -u TCP4-LISTEN:10003 OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__,create,trunc
 nsout	GW ip -j -4 route show|jq -rM '.[] | select(.dst == "default").gateway'
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_SMALL__ | ncat __GW__ 10003
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_SMALL__ TCP4:__GW__:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: host to ns: big transfer
-nsb	ncat -6 -l ::1 10002 > __TEMP_NS_BIG__
-host	cat __TEMP_BIG__ | ncat ::1 10002
+nsb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10002,bind=[::1] OPEN:__TEMP_NS_BIG__,create,trunc
+host	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__ TCP6:[::1]:10002
 nsw
 hout	MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 nsout	NS_MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_NS_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__NS_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: ns to host (spliced): big transfer
-hostb	ncat -6 -l ::1 10003 > __TEMP_BIG__
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_BIG__ | ncat ::1 10003
+hostb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10003,bind=[::1] OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__,create,trunc
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_BIG__ TCP6:[::1]:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 nsw
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: ns to host (via tap): big transfer
-hostb	ncat -6 -l :: 10003 > __TEMP_BIG__
+hostb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10003 OPEN:__TEMP_BIG__,create,trunc
 nsout	GW6 ip -j -6 route show|jq -rM '.[] | select(.dst == "default").gateway'
 nsout	IFNAME ip -j link show | jq -rM '.[] | select(.link_type == "ether").ifname'
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_BIG__ | ncat __GW6__%__IFNAME__ 10003
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_BIG__ TCP6:[__GW6__%__IFNAME__]:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_BIG md5sum __TEMP_BIG__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
@@ -94,24 +94,24 @@ check	[ "__HOST_MD5_BIG__" = "__MD5_BIG__" ]
 test	TCP/IPv6: host to ns: small transfer
 temp	TEMP_SMALL
 temp	TEMP_NS_SMALL
-nsb	ncat -6 -l ::1 10002 > __TEMP_NS_SMALL__
-host	dd if=/dev/urandom bs=2k count=1 > __TEMP_SMALL__
-host	cat __TEMP_SMALL__ | ncat ::1 10002
+nsb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10002,bind=[::1] OPEN:__TEMP_NS_SMALL__,create,trunc
+host	dd if=/dev/urandom bs=2k count=1 of=__TEMP_SMALL__
+host	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__ TCP6:[::1]:10002
 nsw
 hout	MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 nsout	NS_MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_NS_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__NS_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: ns to host (spliced): small transfer
-hostb	ncat -6 -l ::1 10003 > __TEMP_SMALL__
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_SMALL__ | ncat ::1 10003
+hostb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10003,bind=[::1] OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__,create,trunc
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_SMALL__ TCP6:[::1]:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]
 
 test	TCP/IPv6: ns to host (via tap): small transfer
-hostb	ncat -6 -l :: 10003 > __TEMP_SMALL__
-ns	cat __TEMP_NS_SMALL__ | ncat __GW6__%__IFNAME__ 10003
+hostb	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10003 OPEN:__TEMP_SMALL__,create,trunc
+ns	socat -u OPEN:__TEMP_NS_SMALL__ TCP6:[__GW6__%__IFNAME__]:10003
 hostw
 hout	HOST_MD5_SMALL md5sum __TEMP_SMALL__ | cut -d' ' -f1
 check	[ "__HOST_MD5_SMALL__" = "__MD5_SMALL__" ]