[Bug 211761] Add Infiniband (WITH_OFED) support to default buildworld

[bugzilla-noreply at freebsd.org]

https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=211761

            Bug ID: 211761
           Summary: Add Infiniband (WITH_OFED) support to default
                    buildworld
           Product: Base System
           Version: CURRENT
          Hardware: amd64
                OS: Any
            Status: New
          Severity: Affects Only Me
          Priority: ---
         Component: bin
          Assignee: freebsd-bugs at FreeBSD.org
          Reporter: bacon4000 at gmail.com
                CC: freebsd-amd64 at FreeBSD.org
                CC: freebsd-amd64 at FreeBSD.org

I'm wondering if it would be possible to add OFED support to the default
userland tools in the near future.

Note: I am NOT suggesting adding Infiniband (IB) drivers to the generic kernel,
which I think would be too risky.

Currently, adding IB support to the kernel can be done via either a buildkernel
or by building kernel modules, a very quick and easy process:

https://wiki.freebsd.org/InfiniBand

Adding support to the userland tools still requires a buildworld as far as I
have been able to determine.  This is a major obstacle for mass deployment of
IB-enabled systems, such as compute nodes in an HPC cluster.  It's a lengthy
process that could be undone by certain freebsd-update patches, resulting in
additional down time following updates.

I don't believe that enabling OFED support in the userland without enabling the
IB drivers poses any serious risk, and with the availabilty of kernel modules
for the IB drivers, it would allow for rapid deployment and easy maintenance of
IB-enabled FreeBSD systems.

Thanks,

   Jason

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