OpenFabrics Alliance
Encyclopedia
The OpenFabrics Alliance is a non-profit organization that evangelizes remote direct memory access
(RDMA) switched fabric
technologies for server and storage connectivity. These high-speed data-transport technologies are used in high-performance computing facilities, in research and various industries.
The OpenFabrics Alliance aims to develop a unified, open-source software stack that supports the two major RDMA fabric technologies -- InfiniBand
and iWARP
(also known as RDMA over Ethernet
). The software includes two packages, one that runs on Linux
and FreeBSD
and one that runs on Windows
. The alliance worked with the two large Linux distributors—Novell
and Red Hat
—as well as Microsoft
on compatibility with their operating systems.
. The alliance released the first version of the OFED (OpenFabrics Enterprise Distribution) in 2005.
In 2005 the OpenIB Alliance announced support for Microsoft Windows. In 2006, the organization again expanded its charter to include support for iWARP, which is a transport technology that competes with InfiniBand. At that time that the alliance changed its name to the OpenFabrics Alliance.
Subsequent releases have added support for iWARP and Windows.
In 2011, OFED stack was ported to FreeBSD
and included in FreeBSD 9.
The OFED stack includes software driver
s, core kernel-code, middleware, and user-level interfaces. It offers a range of standard protocols, including IPoIB (IP over InfiniBand
), SDP, SRP
, iSER
, RDS
and DAPL (the Direct Access Programming Library). It also supports many other protocols, including various MPI implementations, and it supports many file systems, including Lustre and NFS over RDMA.
. The program enables manufacturers of InfiniBand and iWARP products to test and certify that their products support the OpenFabrics software stack, and test their compatibility with other products.
The alliance sponsors interoperability events at the University of New Hampshire
. The test scenarios are available to the public, as are the test results for all products that earn the logo. During interoperability events, all participating companies have the opportunity to observe all tests run on all products.
, Appro, Chelsio Communications, Cisco Systems
, Data Direct Networks, Flextronics
, Hewlett Packard, IBM
, Intel, LSI Corporation
, Mellanox Technologies, NetEffect, Neterion, NetApp, NetXen, Oracle Corporation
, QLogic
, Silicon Graphics
, Sun Microsystems
, System Fabric Works, and Xsigo Systems
.
Research members include:
Consulting members include the Ethernet Alliance
, the InfiniBand Trade Association
, Lamprey Networks, Ohio State University
, and the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory
.
In 2007, Credit Suisse
became the first financial-services firm to join the Alliance.
Remote Direct Memory Access
In computing, remote direct memory access is a direct memory access from the memory of one computer into that of another without involving either one's operating system...
(RDMA) switched fabric
Switched fabric
Switched fabric, switching fabric, or just fabric, is a network topology where network nodes connect with each other via one or more network switches . The term is popular in telecommunication, Fibre Channel storage area networks and other high-speed networks, including InfiniBand...
technologies for server and storage connectivity. These high-speed data-transport technologies are used in high-performance computing facilities, in research and various industries.
The OpenFabrics Alliance aims to develop a unified, open-source software stack that supports the two major RDMA fabric technologies -- InfiniBand
InfiniBand
InfiniBand is a switched fabric communications link used in high-performance computing and enterprise data centers. Its features include high throughput, low latency, quality of service and failover, and it is designed to be scalable...
and iWARP
IWARP
The Internet Wide Area RDMA Protocol is a computer networking protocol for transferring data efficiently.It is sometimes referred to simply as "RDMA", though RDMA is not a feature exclusive to iWARP.-History:...
(also known as RDMA over Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
). The software includes two packages, one that runs on Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
and FreeBSD
FreeBSD
FreeBSD is a free Unix-like operating system descended from AT&T UNIX via BSD UNIX. Although for legal reasons FreeBSD cannot be called “UNIX”, as the direct descendant of BSD UNIX , FreeBSD’s internals and system APIs are UNIX-compliant...
and one that runs on Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. The alliance worked with the two large Linux distributors—Novell
Novell
Novell, Inc. is a multinational software and services company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Attachmate Group. It specializes in network operating systems, such as Novell NetWare; systems management solutions, such as Novell ZENworks; and collaboration solutions, such as Novell Groupwise...
and Red Hat
Red Hat
Red Hat, Inc. is an S&P 500 company in the free and open source software sector, and a major Linux distribution vendor. Founded in 1993, Red Hat has its corporate headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina with satellite offices worldwide....
—as well as Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
on compatibility with their operating systems.
History
Founded in June 2004 as the OpenIB Alliance, the organization originally developed an InfiniBand software stack for Linux. Initial funding for the Alliance was provided by the United States Department of EnergyUnited States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
. The alliance released the first version of the OFED (OpenFabrics Enterprise Distribution) in 2005.
In 2005 the OpenIB Alliance announced support for Microsoft Windows. In 2006, the organization again expanded its charter to include support for iWARP, which is a transport technology that competes with InfiniBand. At that time that the alliance changed its name to the OpenFabrics Alliance.
Subsequent releases have added support for iWARP and Windows.
In 2011, OFED stack was ported to FreeBSD
FreeBSD
FreeBSD is a free Unix-like operating system descended from AT&T UNIX via BSD UNIX. Although for legal reasons FreeBSD cannot be called “UNIX”, as the direct descendant of BSD UNIX , FreeBSD’s internals and system APIs are UNIX-compliant...
and included in FreeBSD 9.
OpenFabrics Enterprise Distribution
A community of developers from hardware manufacturers, software vendors, system integrators, government agencies and academia to work on OFED. The OpenFabrics Alliance provides architectures, software repositories, interoperability tests, bug databases, workshops, and BSD- and GPL-licensed code to facilitate development.The OFED stack includes software driver
Device driver
In computing, a device driver or software driver is a computer program allowing higher-level computer programs to interact with a hardware device....
s, core kernel-code, middleware, and user-level interfaces. It offers a range of standard protocols, including IPoIB (IP over InfiniBand
InfiniBand
InfiniBand is a switched fabric communications link used in high-performance computing and enterprise data centers. Its features include high throughput, low latency, quality of service and failover, and it is designed to be scalable...
), SDP, SRP
SCSI RDMA Protocol
In computing the SCSI RDMA Protocol is a protocol that allows one computer to access SCSI devices attached to another computer via remote direct memory access . The SRP protocol is also known as the SCSI Remote Protocol. The use of RDMA makes higher throughput and lower latency possible than what...
, iSER
ISCSI Extensions for RDMA
The iSCSI Extensions for RDMA is a computer network protocol that extends the Internet Small Computer System Interface protocol to use Remote Direct Memory Access...
, RDS
Reliable Datagram Sockets
Reliable Datagram Sockets is a high-performance, low-latency reliable connectionless protocol for delivering datagrams. It is developed by Oracle Corporation.It was included in the Linux kernel 2.6.30 which was released on 9th of June, 2009...
and DAPL (the Direct Access Programming Library). It also supports many other protocols, including various MPI implementations, and it supports many file systems, including Lustre and NFS over RDMA.
Interoperability testing
On June 25, 2007, the OpenFabrics Alliance announced the OFA-UNH-IOL Logo Program in partnership with the University of New Hampshire InterOperability LaboratoryUniversity of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory
The University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory provides independent, broad-based interoperability and standards conformance testing for data, telecommunications and storage networking products and technologies...
. The program enables manufacturers of InfiniBand and iWARP products to test and certify that their products support the OpenFabrics software stack, and test their compatibility with other products.
The alliance sponsors interoperability events at the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
. The test scenarios are available to the public, as are the test results for all products that earn the logo. During interoperability events, all participating companies have the opportunity to observe all tests run on all products.
Members
Corporate members of the OpenFabrics Alliance include Advanced Micro DevicesAdvanced Micro Devices
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. or AMD is an American multinational semiconductor company based in Sunnyvale, California, that develops computer processors and related technologies for commercial and consumer markets...
, Appro, Chelsio Communications, Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services. Cisco has more than 70,000 employees and annual revenue of US$...
, Data Direct Networks, Flextronics
Flextronics
Flextronics International Ltd. is an electronics manufacturing services provider that offers services to original equipment manufacturers . It also provides supporting supply chain services, including packaging and transportation throughout the world, as well as design and after-sales...
, Hewlett Packard, IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
, Intel, LSI Corporation
LSI Corporation
LSI Corporation is an electronics company based in Milpitas, California that designs semiconductors and software that accelerate storage and networking in datacenters and mobile networks.-History:...
, Mellanox Technologies, NetEffect, Neterion, NetApp, NetXen, Oracle Corporation
Oracle Corporation
Oracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation that specializes in developing and marketing hardware systems and enterprise software products – particularly database management systems...
, QLogic
QLogic
QLogic Corporation is an Aliso Viejo, California-based designer and supplier of storage networking, high performance computing networking, and converged infrastructure solutions...
, Silicon Graphics
Silicon Graphics
Silicon Graphics, Inc. was a manufacturer of high-performance computing solutions, including computer hardware and software, founded in 1981 by Jim Clark...
, Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
, System Fabric Works, and Xsigo Systems
Xsigo Systems
Xsigo Systems is an information technology and hardware company based in San Jose, California, US and provides solutions for I/O virtualization to companies and enterprises...
.
Research members include:
- Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryLawrence Livermore National LaboratoryThe Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory , just outside Livermore, California, is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center founded by the University of California in 1952...
- Los Alamos National LaboratoryLos Alamos National LaboratoryLos Alamos National Laboratory is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory, managed and operated by Los Alamos National Security , located in Los Alamos, New Mexico...
- Sandia National LaboratoriesSandia National LaboratoriesThe Sandia National Laboratories, managed and operated by the Sandia Corporation , are two major United States Department of Energy research and development national laboratories....
Consulting members include the Ethernet Alliance
Ethernet Alliance
The Ethernet Alliance was incorporated in the state of California in August 2005 and officially launched in January 2006 as a global non-profit industry consortium to promote and support Ethernet...
, the InfiniBand Trade Association
InfiniBand Trade Association
The InfiniBand Trade Association is the standards organization that defines and maintains the InfiniBand specification. It is an industry consortium....
, Lamprey Networks, Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, and the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory
University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory
The University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory provides independent, broad-based interoperability and standards conformance testing for data, telecommunications and storage networking products and technologies...
.
In 2007, Credit Suisse
Credit Suisse
The Credit Suisse Group AG is a Swiss multinational financial services company headquartered in Zurich, with more than 250 branches in Switzerland and operations in more than 50 countries.-History:...
became the first financial-services firm to join the Alliance.