Network Direct Memory Access

A node comprising:

• a network interface controller (NIC) configured to couple the node to a network;
• a local memory;
• and
• a direct memory access (DMA) controller coupled to the local memory and coupled to receive a first packet from the NIC, and wherein the DMA controller is configured to perform one or more transfers with the local memory to access the data specified by the first packet, wherein a first local memory address to be accessed in the local memory is included in a network header of the packet, and wherein the network header corresponds to a network layer of packet processing, and wherein the first packet further includes a data link layer header corresponding to a data link layer of packet processing, and wherein the data link layer header abuts the network header in the first packet.

A method comprising:

• a network interface controller (NIC) receiving a first packet from a network, wherein the first packet specifies an access to local memory in a node that includes the NIC, and wherein a first local memory address to be accessed in the local memory is included in a network header of the packet, and wherein the network header corresponds to a network layer of packet processing, and wherein the first packet further includes a data link layer header corresponding to a data link layer of packet processing, and wherein the data link layer header abuts the network header in the first packet;
• a direct memory access (DMA) controller receiving the first packet from the NIC;
• and
• the DMA controller performing one or more transfers with the local memory to access the data specified by the first packet.