How can I judge whether a CPU supports DDIO？

[QZhang]

Hi,

Intel introduced Data Direct IO (DDIO) technology in 2012. According to this article(https://www.intel.cn/content/www/cn/zh/io/data-direct-i-o-technology.html ), Intel DDIO is enabled on all Intel Xeon processor E5 family and Intel Xeon processor E7 v2 family.  

However, for the new generation Xeon processor, for example, E, D, W and Scalable. what indicators should I judge whether it supports ddio technology? And an DDIO only be used with Intel NIC, such as intel X710? Or other network cards, such as mellanox connectx-4?

Here are some articles(https://software.intel.com/content/www/us/en/develop/blogs/four-new-virtualization-technologies-on-the-latest-intel-xeon-are-you-ready-to.html) (https://community.intel.com/t5/Processors/How-to-disable-Data-Direct-I-O-DDIO-on-Intel-Xeon-E5/m-p/483324/thread-id/23686) that introduce that ddio is a part of virtualization technology(VT), but I found some of the same information in the product information. e.g. Intel® Xeon® Processor E3-1280 v3 (not support DDIO, Product Specifications ), Intel® Xeon® Processor E5-2660 v3( support DDIO, Product Specifications ) and Intel® Xeon® W-2145 Processor(new generation, Product Specifications ), their Advanced Technologies  include  Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) ‡       Yes      Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT) ‡       Yes

Thanks

[SergioS_Intel]

Hello QZhang,

Thank you for contacting Intel Customer Support.

Please allow us to check on your question and we will get back to you.

Best regards,

Sergio S.

Intel Customer Support Technician

For firmware updates and troubleshooting tips, visit :https://intel.com/support/serverbios

[JoseH_Intel]

Hello QZhang,

We can confirm that all the processor SKU's of both Cascade Lake and Ice Lake (2nd Gen and 3rd Gen Xeon) support Intel DDIO. If you have further questions don't hesitate to ask.

Regards

Jose A.

Intel Customer Support Technician

For firmware updates and troubleshooting tips, visit:

https://intel.com/support/serverbios

[QZhang]

Hello Jose

Thank you for your reply!

I would like to verify some things.  The DDIO only work with Intel NIC, such as intel X710? Or NIC of other vendors, such as mellanox connectx-4?

Best Regards,

QZhang

[SergioS_Intel]

Hello QZhang,

Please allow us to check on your question and we will get back to you.

Best regards,

Sergio S.

Intel Customer Support Technician

For firmware updates and troubleshooting tips, visit :https://intel.com/support/serverbios

[SergioS_Intel · Accepted solution]

Hello QZhang,

Unfortunately, we couldn't find any reference to Mellanox ConnectX-4.

We do recommend to please contact Mellanox support and check with them which specific models support Intel DDIO.

Intel DDIO is supported in other cards. For example, Mellanox ConnectX® -5 VPI Mellanox Socket Direct card supports DDIO.

https://www.mellanox.com/files/doc-2020/pb-connectx-5-vpi-card-socket-direct.pdf

And in the Mellanox community page it says only "Socket Direct Models" support Intel DDIO.

https://community.mellanox.com/s/question/0D51T00007wWxSJSA0/do-all-nics-in-the-mellanox-connectx6-dx-portfolio-enable-intels-ddio

Please let us know if you need further assistance.

Best regards,

Sergio S.

Intel Customer Support Technician

For firmware updates and troubleshooting tips, visit :https://intel.com/support/serverbios

[QZhang]

Hello Sergio，

Thank you so much!

Best Regards,

QZhang