[openib-general] [PATCH][iWARP] Added provider CM verbs and query provider methods

[Caitlin Bestler]

Device vendors would jump at the opportunity to have a stable
interface with the host stack. Things like routing, protection
from denial of service attacks, rules for logging and filtering
connection requests and more all *should* be handled by the host
stack.

That's where the end user wants to control them, it's where
the security code can be kept most current and most robust.
It is also largely on packets that do not require offload
optimization.

But we also need time to ensure that the community understands
this as giving the host stack control of an offload connection
during connection establishment -- rather than as the offload
device "stealing" the connection from the host stack.

Moving the entire TCP connection logic to the offload device
not only increases the work that the offload device must do,
it reduces the auditability of the system and the user's control
over their network activity.

So the intent is not to evade the stack, rather it is to allow
time for proper integration with host stack control. The tradeoffs
are complex, and neither side fully understands the other's 
issues yet. We need to work together to determine how to provide
the acceleration that our users want without sacrificing the OS
provided security that they assume will not be sacrificed.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: openib-general-bounces at openib.org 
> [mailto:openib-general-bounces at openib.org] On Behalf Of Roland Dreier
> Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2005 4:21 PM
> To: Tom Tucker
> Cc: openib-general at openib.org
> Subject: Re: [openib-general] [PATCH][iWARP] Added provider 
> CM verbs and query provider methods
> 
>     Tom> RNIC Verbs imply that the modify qp verb takes a handle to a
>     Tom> connection -- presumably a socket. This CAN'T be done on
>     Tom> Linux in any fashion that is acceptable to the netdev
>     Tom> crowd. SOOO we modeled this after DAPL.  Trust me, I would
>     Tom> LOVE to be able to establish the connection using bind,
>     Tom> listen, etc..., query the Linux connection state and then
>     Tom> pass this down to the qp modify verb...but I can't.
> 
> Let's not be too quick to say that this is impossible.  I 
> think we should work with the Linux networking community and 
> come up with the right answer, and not accept a bad solution 
> just because it lets us go around the networking people.
> 
> Has there been any real discussion of this on netdev?
> 
>  - R.
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