Attendees Company
Arlin Davis Intel
Bob Woodruff Intel
Bill Snapko HPE
Rupert Dance SW Forge
Vladimir Sokolovsky Mellanox
Devesh Sharma Broadcom
Eddie Wai Broadcom
Jim Ryan OFA
Agenda:
* OFA board asked if EWG community would be interested in supporting an
OFED "lite" distribution going forward.
* OFED lite option:
o Simple packaging, update drivers only - ported to in-box distro release of
rdma-core
o Bug fixing only, no new features, in-kernel rdma_core would not be
replaced/modified
* IBTA use of OFED - brief history from Rupert
o Initially used OFED, supported all vendors with distribution - everyone
backported drivers
o Then moved to MOFED for Mellanox, OFED for other vendors that still
supported backports from upstream kernel
o Now, MOFED for Mellanox, in-box distro releases for vendors (Broadcom,
Cavium), OFED no longer useful without backports
o Unless this new model supported driver updates, within 1-2 months of distro
release it will be too dated to be useful
* Open discussion regarding OFED lite option
* General feeling is that there is little value with driver fixes only,
should just go directly to distro upgrade packages, supported and timely (yum
update)
* OFED driver fixes packaged for in-box release, installed by customers,
wouldn't be supported by distro's
* Requires vendors to build/maintain drivers across many different
kernel source trees and rdma_core stacks
* Cavium email, "we prefer to deliver our own drivers to customers, we
don't see the added value of having a common ofed release if it's just for
drivers"
* Broadcom and HPE still see the value in getting the latest upstream
rdma-core feature set for their customers
* Broadcom is willing to pick up rdma-core, compat-rdma porting if they
get help.
* Vlad explained details of compat-rdma backporting, huge amount of
work - similar to what RH does for major releases with a 4-person team.
* Intel uses own packaging for OPA, works directly with distro's for
other network drivers, no need for OFED or OFED lite.
* Mellanox builds and maintains its own distribution for customers,
doesn't need OFED
* Suggestion was made to take a quick rollcall - OFED lite vs continue with
OFED full support
* Company OFED lite OFED full
* Broadcom no yes
* Mellanox no no
* Intel no no
* SW Forge no no
* HPE no yes
* Cavium (email) no no
Please send any corrections or omissions as needed.
Regards,
Arlin
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