[openib-general] HCAs with and without memory

[Dotan Barak]

Hi john.

john t wrote:
> Hi OpenIB group,
>  
> What is the difference between HCAs with memory and without memory. 
> How is the on-board memory used by HCAs? Is it that data is first 
> copied into this memory and then into physical memory?
>  
> Regards,
> John T.

If you are asking about Mellanox HCAs i can answer you:

The difference is the technology which those HCAs are using:
The HCAs without the attached memory are using the memfree technology.

The main difference between the 2 HCAs is where the context of the 
various resources is located: in the host memory or in the attached memory.

The data itself (during data movement) is not stored in this memory at 
any point in the attached memory.

Dotan