Virtual Interface Architecture: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:04, 11 August 2011

Revision as of 19:50, 20 October 2011

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The '''Virtual Interface Architecture''' ('''VIA''') is an abstract model of ana user-level [[zero-copy]] [[computer network|network]], and is the basis for [[InfiniBand]], [[iWARP]] and [[RDMA_over_Converged_Ethernet|RoCE]]. Created by [[Microsoft]], [[Intel]], and [[Compaq]], the original VIA sought to standardize the interface for high-performance network technologies known as System Area Networks (SANs; not to be confused with [[Storage Area Network]]s).

Networks are a shared resource. With traditional network APIs such as the [[Berkeley_sockets|Berkeley socket API]], the [[kernel (computer science)|kernel]] is involved in every network communication. This presents a tremendous performance bottleneck when [[lag|latency]] is an issue.