MPI communication of GPU buffers

Abstract

A technique for enhancing the efficiency and speed of data transmission within and across multiple, separate computer systems includes the use of an MPI library / engine. The MPI library / engine is configured to facilitate the transfer of data directly from one location to another location within the same computer system and / or on separate computer systems via a network connection. Data stored in one GPU buffer may be transferred directly to another GPU buffer without having to move the data into and out of system memory or other intermediate send and receive buffers.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]Embodiments of the invention relate to communication systems and software for enhancing the efficiency and speed of data transmission within and across one or more computer systems.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Conventional communications software allows a user to run programs across multiple, separate computer systems and / or across multiple processors within the same computer system. One feature of this software is the ability to send and receive data between processes running on separate computer systems and / or processors. Send and receive buffers located in host memory are required for transmitting the data between the processes. The communications software causes data to be transmitted from the send buffer to the receive buffer.[0005]In operation, when sending data that resides in a location other than the host memory, such as in a graphics processing unit memory, the data has to be moved explicitly i...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]An advantage of the embodiments of the invention is more direct and efficient data transfer technique that eliminates the requirement for a user (e.g., a programmer) to move data to system memory and / or another intermediate buffer before moving the data from an initial location to a desired location.

Problems solved by technology

One drawback to this approach is the requirement to move data back and forth between send / receive buffers.

In particular, it is a burden for programmers, to transmit data, to explicitly move the data from a source location outside of host memory to the send buffer; and to receive data, to explicitly move the data from the receive buffer to a destination location outside of host memory.