METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR NETWORK INTERFACE FABRIC SEND/RECEIVE OPERATIONS

Methods and apparatus for improved send/receive operations in network interface fabrics. In one exemplary embodiment, mechanisms and protocols for enhanced inter-process (and inter-endpoint) communication, including within very large scale topologies involving e.g., hundreds or even thousands of nodes or endpoints, such as a large-scale high-performance compute or network fabric, are described. In one implementation, the methods and apparatus avoid frequent kernel transitions (and the performance penalties associated therewith) associated with prior approaches through use of UMCs (user message contexts) are created, which contain TX and RX queues that can be read and written directly from user space. A KMC (kernel message context) is also used, in which TX queues are written from the kernel such that access can be arbitrated between unrelated processes. These functions allow for, among other things, significant portions of the foregoing kernel accesses to be obviated.