OpenCAPI Foundation Work Group Charter

Work Group Name: OpenCAPI DL Architecture Work Group

Purpose:
The OpenCAPI DL Architecture Work Group (WG) is a standing committee developing
and publishing the OpenCAPI Data Link Layer specification enabling various open and
architecture agnostic accelerators across various industries including but not limited to
networking, storage, compute, advanced memories etc

Scope:
The initial scope of the WG is to accept the OpenCAPI 3.0 Data Link Layer Specification
contribution from IBM and further define any missing and necessary areas and/or tune
the specification with the intent to publish a final specification from the OpenCAPI
Consortium.
Future revisions, additions, addenda, modifications to the OpenCAPI Data Link Layer
Specification will come thru this Workgroup.

The 3.0 specification is the architecture definition for the data link layer (training, DL flit
communication, replay buffer etc) upon which OpenCAPI is used during communication
between an accelerator (or other attached device such as an advanced memory solution)
and the host microprocessor.

Anticipated Audience or Users:

The users are all OpenCAPI members interested in developing and using OpenCAPI
solutions where a high performance Data Link Layer is required.

Expected Deliverables:
The work products (WPs) of this WG target the OpenCAPI Data Link Layer
Specification. The initial WPs are:
- WP1: Accept existing 3.0 Data Link Layer Specification from IBM and review to
identify any key missing areas and/or alterations as appropriate. The projected
completion date is 10/2017 and upon completion will be made publicly available.
- Future work products: The standing committee may define and develop future
specifications in the scope defined by this charter as necessary for emerging
performance requirements and use cases.

Participation Mode:
Participation Mode are Members (open to all eligible persons as defined in the
OpenCAPI IPR policy). This WG shall be open to OpenCAPI members that are either
Board Membership, Contributor Membership, Academic or Associate Membership.
Voting is restricted to one company representative that is in the WG.

Confidentiality Mode:
The confidentiality Mode is Written Confidentiality as defined in the IPR Policy.

IPR Policy:
RAND

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Open Source Software OSS Licensing Mode:

Not applicable

OSS Communities:
Not applicable
Administrative Information
Material below here is informational

Similar Activities:
In process to be formed, the Transaction Layer WG which defines the architecture
definition for the transaction layer upon which the OpenCAPI protocol enables
communication between a host processor and attached devices but not limited to
accelerators, advanced memory solutions, GPUs and the like.

Meeting Plan:
-Hold the 1st meeting (conference call) within two weeks after the WG charter is
approved by BOD
-Conference calls initially on a bi-weekly basis and will migrate to a monthly at the
appropriate time
- As determined by a WG majority in attendance, plan and hold a face to face workshop.

Participants Support:
Paul Hartke, paul.hartke@xilinx.com, Board Membership
Chris Johnson, cjjohnson@google.com, Board Membership
Kent Haselhorst, khh@us.ibm.com, Board Membership
Brian Allison, ballis@us.ibm.com, Board Membership
Note: More will be added as requested

Member Organization Support:

Paul Hartke – Xilinx, “Paul Hartke, Engineer at Xilinx, supports the creation of the
OpenCAPI DL Architecture Specification WorkGroup as defined in the Chartering
document”
Myron Slota – , IBM, “IBM supports the creation of this WG as described in this
charter.”
Chris Johnson – Google, “”

Work Group Convener: Brian Allison

List of Existing Technical Work (optional)

OpenCAPI 3.0 Data Link Layer Specification

Draft of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to cover issues that the Charter might raise
(optional)
None

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Proposed Working Title and Acronym for planned Work Products (optional)
None

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