Network adapter with a common queue for both networking and data manipulation work requests

Abstract

A network adapter includes a network interface that communicates packets over a network, a host interface connected locally to a host processor and to a host memory, and processing circuitry, coupled between the network interface and the host interface, and is configured to receive in a common queue, via the host interface, (i) a processing work item specifying a source buffer in the host memory, a data processing operation, and a first address in the host memory, and (ii) an RDMA write work item specifying the first address, and a second address in a remote memory. In response to the processing work item, the processing circuitry reads data from the source buffer, applies the data processing operation, and stores the processed data in the first address. In response to the RDMA write work item the processing circuitry transmits the processed data, over the network, for storage in the second address.