[openib-general] [PATCH 0/10] [RFC] Support for SilverStorm Virtual Ethernet I/O controller (VEx)

[Rimmer, Todd]

> From: Scott Weitzenkamp (sweitzen)
> Sent: Monday, October 02, 2006 4:22 PM
> To: Kuchimanchi, Ramachandra; Roland Dreier (rdreier)
> Cc: openib-General
> Subject: Re: [openib-general] [PATCH 0/10] [RFC] Support for
SilverStorm
> Virtual Ethernet I/O controller (VEx)
> 
> Is this communication protocols documented anywhere?  How does this
> feature compare to IPoIB and SDP?
> 
This protocol is distinct from IPoIB and SDP.

In brief:

IPoIB treats an IB fabric as a LAN.  As such it has UD semantics.

SDP essentially treats the HCA as a TOE and leverages IB's RC semantics
to emulate TCP/IP SOCK_STREAM sockets.

This protocol implements the interface to communicate to the SilverStorm
VEx Ethernet Virtual IO Controllers.  The VEx card presents a true
Ethernet NIC to the host and essentially treats IB as an IO bus to allow
a host CPU to use the VEx card as its NIC.

Todd Rimmer