A PC’s main storage can be swiftly and simply connected to the main storage of another PC using remote direct memory access (RDMA). It is crucial when working with big data sets or intricate procedures, such as those required for machine learning. Let’s discuss RDMA in more detail and how it functions.
Definition of RDMA
RDMA is the act of one PC in a network accessing the memory of the other without using that machine’s operating system (OS), processor, or cache. As a result of the many resources that are freed up, it aids in improving the performance of systems.
On an off-site machine, read and write activities can be carried out without being halted by the CPU of that machine. This technology reduces networking latency while increasing the data transfer rate. It employs zero-copy networking to transport data straight into system buffers by turning on network devices.
Features of RDMA
Reduced CPU infrastructure: Software can obtain access to data from distant servers without using any of those servers’ CPU time. The acquired content won’t overflow the remote server’s CPU cache memory as a result.
Zero-copying network: Without being duplicated in between the network layers, data can be sent and received between software buffers directly.
Effective transaction: There is no longer a requirement to separate messages because data can be sent and received as discrete messages rather than streams.
Functioning: It is necessary for the network cards to provide the appropriate set of protocols if one needs RDMA data exchange to function. The most common base is TCP/IP. The technology, for instance, can only offer zero-copy networking when using the appropriate transport protocol. Additionally, the computer processor is not utilized. Data transfer between two systems using RDMA is quicker than when using two systems without RDMA capabilities.
Protocols for Networks that Support RDMA
IB- (InfiniBand)
RDMA has been closely supported by InfiniBand from the start. It requires switches and Network Interface Cards (NICs) that aid this new network technology.
RoCE- (Converged Ethernet with RDMA)
A network protocol called RoCE facilitates RDMA over an Ethernet network. As a result, RDMA can be used with traditional Ethernet architecture.
iWARP (Wide Area RDMA Protocol on the Internet)
A protocol called iWARP makes it possible to use RDMA over TCP. Some IB and RoCE features are not supported. As a result, RDMA can be utilized over traditional Ethernet architecture.
Pros of RDMA
In comparison to other data transfer technologies and protocols, RDMA delivers exceptional speed. However, the RDMA option also affects the real speed of the data flow. Because these technologies allow for transfer speeds of 10-100 GB per second, Ethernet and InfiniBand are particularly well-liked. It is ideally suited for computing-intensive applications like large data analysis, distributed databases, or software running in data centers.
Cons of RDMA
Despite being utilized by several businesses, RDMA also has a number of drawbacks. Companies should be prepared to invest much in RDMA because the technology requires new hardware and protocol elements. As a result, the expenses of RDMA are much higher. Additionally, only when all systems are supported by the technology does high-speed data transfer through the RDMA function.
This is all there is to understand RDMA.
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