Virtual Interface Architecture: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:26, 10 August 2011

Revision as of 18:04, 11 August 2011

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The '''Virtual Interface Architecture''' ('''VIA''') is an abstract model of an 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. InWith traditional networksnetwork APIs such as the [[EthernetBerkeley_sockets|Berkeley socket API]], the network is protected by the [[kernel (computer science)|kernel]], whichis involved in every network communication. This presents a tremendous performance bottleneck when [[lag|latency]] is an issue.

One of the classic developments in computing systems is [[virtual memory]], a combination of hardware and software that creates the illusion of private memory for each process. In the same school of thought, a virtual network interface protected across process boundaries could be accessed at the user level. With this technology, the "consumer" manages its own buffers and communication schedule while the "provider" handles the protection.