Abstract: A method for facilitating direct memory access in a computing system in response to a request to transfer data is provided. The method comprises selecting a thread for transferring the data, wherein the thread executes on a processing core within the computing system; providing the thread with the request, wherein the request comprises information for carrying out a data transfer; and transferring the data according to the request. The method may further comprise: coordinating the request with a memory management unit, such that virtual addresses may be used to transfer data; invalidating a cache line associated with the source address or flushing a cache line associated with the destination address, if requested. Multiple threads can be selected to transfer data based on their proximity to the destination address.

Abstract: The interconnecting network for switching data packets, having data and flow control information, comprises a local packet switch element (S1) with local input buffers (I(1,1) . . . I(1,y)) for buffering the incoming data packets, a remote packet switch element (S2) with remote input buffers (I(2,1) . . . I(2,y)) for buffering the incoming data packets, and data lines (L) for interconnecting the local and the remote packet switch elements (S1, S2). The interconnecting network further comprises a local and a remote arbiter (A1, A2) which are connected via control lines (CL) to the input buffers (I(1,1) . . . I(1,y), I(2,1) . . . I(2,y)), and which are formed such that they can provide that the flow control information is transmitted via the data lines (L) and the control lines (CL).

Abstract: A method for facilitating direct memory access in a computing system in response to a request to transfer data is provided. The method comprises selecting a thread for transferring the data, wherein the thread executes on a processing core within the computing system; providing the thread with the request, wherein the request comprises information for carrying out a data transfer; and transferring the data according to the request. The method may further comprise: coordinating the request with a memory management unit, such that virtual addresses may be used to transfer data; invalidating a cache line associated with the source address or flushing a cache line associated with the destination address, if requested. Multiple threads can be selected to transfer data based on their proximity to the destination address.

Abstract: Two independent pointers within a message descriptor are used to link the message descriptor to various queues during transmission of a message from a sender node to a receiver node within a computer environment. In particular, one pointer is used to link the message descriptor on either a pending send queue or a send queue, while the other pointer is used to link the message descriptor on either an unacknowledged queue or an acknowledged queue. For example, when a message is sent, it is removed from the send queue using one pointer and placed on the unacknowledged queue using the other pointer. Further, if the message is resent, it is linked back onto the send queue using the send queue pointer without disturbing the order of the message on the unacknowledged queue. Thus, ordering of message transmission is preserved, even when a message is sent multiple times.

Abstract: Two independent pointers within a message descriptor are used to link the message descriptor to various queues during transmission of a message from a sender node to a receiver node within a computer environment. In particular, one pointer is used to link the message descriptor on either a pending send queue or a send queue, while the other pointer is used to link the message descriptor on either an unacknowledged queue or an acknowledged queue. For example, when a message is sent, it is removed from the send queue using one pointer and placed on the unacknowledged queue using the other pointer. Further, if the message is resent, it is linked back onto the send queue using the send queue pointer without disturbing the order of the message on the unacknowledged queue. Thus, ordering of message transmission is preserved, even when a message is sent multiple times.