Remote Direct Memory Access

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What Does Remote Direct Memory Access Mean?

Remote direct memory access (RDMA) is a term used in IT to describe systems that allow different networked computers to send one another data without impacting the operating system of either machine.

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Techopedia Explains Remote Direct Memory Access

IT pros talking about RDMA talk about zero-copy networking where data gets read directly from the main memory of the original computer and inserted into the main memory of an other networked machine. These types of processes are used to improve performance and maintain more efficient data transfer. Sometimes, they can speed up data transfer or accommodate better throughput. Device manufacturers may talk about RDMA as a feature of components that will allow this kind of data transfer. Experts may talk about how strategies like RDMA can help to make local area networks or other kinds of small networks faster and more efficient.

Some disadvantages of RDMA may include inconsistent updating of information between the computers in question. Without a practice called pinning, elements of memory systems can get corrupted in RDMA setups. Today’s networking technicians need to consider many different options for routing ever-more complex data transfers.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.