[openib-general] Hello and a basic question

[Fab Tillier]

> From: Mark Galecki [mailto:mgalecki at sbs.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 3:09 PM
> 
> Why is IP-over-IB named IP-over-IB?  From what I can understand, this is
> really a software layer, that connects the protocol layer (IP and ARP) to
> the IB device driver.  So, it should be called something like
> Protocol-to-IB, not IP-over-IB.

ARP is included in the IP over IB spec because it is used to do hardware
address resolution.  IPoIB is not a generic software layer that can route
any protocol - it only supports IP (and whatever is needed for IP to work,
i.e. ARP).

The name illustrates the limitation - you can't send other protocols over an
IPoIB implementation, as the rules for encapsulation aren't defined for
other protocols.  So you could call it "IP Protocol to IB", but that's a bit
cumbersome.

Hope that helps!

- Fab