Remote Direct Memory Access
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Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) is a computer networking technique that allows a computer's network interface controller (NIC) to access the memory of another computer's NIC directly, without involvement of the operating system or other software running on the computers. RDMA allows for very high-speed data transfer rates, and is often used in high-performance computing (HPC) and other applications where fast data transfer is critical.
What is RDMA?
RDMA is a transport protocol that enables direct access to the memory of a remote computer. This is in contrast to traditional network protocols, which require the data to be copied from the sending computer's memory to the network, and then from the network to the receiving computer's memory. RDMA eliminates this copying process, which can significantly improve performance for applications that need to transfer large amounts of data.
How does RDMA work?
RDMA uses a special type of network hardware called a remote direct memory access (RDMA) engine. The RDMA engine is responsible for managing the transfer of data between the NICs of the two computers. The RDMA engine uses a set of special instructions called remote direct memory access (RDMA) verbs to control the transfer of data.
What are the benefits of using RDMA?
RDMA offers several benefits over traditional network protocols, including:
- High performance: RDMA can achieve very high-speed data transfer rates, making it ideal for applications that need to transfer large amounts of data.
- Low latency: RDMA has very low latency, which makes it ideal for applications that require real-time data transfer.
- Reliability: RDMA is a reliable transport protocol, which makes it ideal for applications that require guaranteed data delivery.
What are the use cases of RDMA?
RDMA is used in a variety of applications, including:
