Initial working all reduce

CMakeLists.txt

@@ -119,6 +119,10 @@ if(MLX_BUILD_METAL)
     COMMAND zsh "-c" "/usr/bin/xcrun -sdk macosx --show-sdk-version"
     OUTPUT_VARIABLE MACOS_SDK_VERSION
     OUTPUT_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE COMMAND_ERROR_IS_FATAL ANY)
+  execute_process(
+    COMMAND zsh "-c" "/usr/bin/xcrun -sdk macosx --show-sdk-path"
+    OUTPUT_VARIABLE CMAKE_OSX_SYSROOT
+    OUTPUT_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE COMMAND_ERROR_IS_FATAL ANY)
 
   if(${MACOS_SDK_VERSION} LESS 14.0)
     message(

mlx/distributed/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ target_sources(
           ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/ops.cpp
           ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/distributed.cpp)
 
+if(MLX_BUILD_CPU AND NOT WIN32)
+  target_sources(mlx PRIVATE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/utils.cpp)
+endif()
+
 add_subdirectory(${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/mpi)
 add_subdirectory(${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/ring)
 add_subdirectory(${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/nccl)
+add_subdirectory(${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/ibv)

mlx/distributed/distributed.cpp

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "mlx/backend/cuda/cuda.h"
 #include "mlx/distributed/distributed.h"
 #include "mlx/distributed/distributed_impl.h"
+#include "mlx/distributed/ibv/ibv.h"
 #include "mlx/distributed/mpi/mpi.h"
 #include "mlx/distributed/nccl/nccl.h"
 #include "mlx/distributed/ring/ring.h"
@@ -102,7 +103,8 @@ class EmptyGroup : public GroupImpl {
 } // namespace detail
 
 bool is_available() {
-  return mpi::is_available() || ring::is_available() || nccl::is_available();
+  return mpi::is_available() || ring::is_available() || nccl::is_available() ||
+      ibv::is_available();
 }
 
 int Group::rank() const {
@@ -135,6 +137,8 @@ Group init(bool strict /* = false */, const std::string& bk /* = "any" */) {
     group = ring::init(strict);
   } else if (bk == "nccl") {
     group = nccl::init(strict);
+  } else if (bk == "ibv") {
+    group = ibv::init(strict);
   } else if (bk == "any") {
     if (mlx::core::cu::is_available()) {
       group = nccl::init(false);
@@ -148,13 +152,17 @@ Group init(bool strict /* = false */, const std::string& bk /* = "any" */) {
       group = mpi::init(false);
       bk_ = "mpi";
     }
+    if (group == nullptr) {
+      group = ibv::init(false);
+      bk_ = "ibv";
+    }
     if (group == nullptr && strict) {
       throw std::runtime_error("[distributed] Couldn't initialize any backend");
     }
   } else {
     std::ostringstream msg;
-    msg << "[distributed] The only valid values for backend are 'any', 'mpi' "
-        << "and 'ring' but '" << bk << "' was provided.";
+    msg << "[distributed] The only valid values for backend are 'any', 'mpi', 'nccl', "
+        << "'ibv' and 'ring' but '" << bk << "' was provided.";
     throw std::invalid_argument(msg.str());
   }
 

mlx/distributed/ibv/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+target_sources(mlx PRIVATE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/ibv.cpp)
+target_link_libraries(mlx PRIVATE rdma)

mlx/distributed/ibv/ibv.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,955 @@
+// Copyright © 2025 Apple Inc.
+
+#include <infiniband/verbs.h>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+#include <json.hpp>
+
+#include "mlx/backend/cpu/encoder.h"
+#include "mlx/distributed/distributed_impl.h"
+#include "mlx/distributed/utils.h"
+#include "mlx/dtype_utils.h"
+
+constexpr const char* IBV_TAG = "[ibv]";
+constexpr int NUM_BUFFERS = 2;
+constexpr int BUFFER_SIZE = 4096;
+constexpr int MAX_SEND_WR = 32;
+constexpr int MAX_RECV_WR = 32;
+constexpr int SEND_WR = 1;
+constexpr int RECV_WR = 2;
+constexpr int MAX_PEERS = 8;
+
+using GroupImpl = mlx::core::distributed::detail::GroupImpl;
+using json = nlohmann::json;
+namespace detail = mlx::core::distributed::detail;
+namespace allocator = mlx::core::allocator;
+
+template <typename T, typename = void>
+struct is_container : std::false_type {};
+
+template <typename T>
+struct is_container<
+    T,
+    std::void_t<typename T::value_type, typename T::iterator>>
+    : std::true_type {};
+
+std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& os, const ibv_gid& gid) {
+  os << std::hex << std::setfill('0');
+  for (int i = 0; i < 16; i += 2) {
+    uint16_t part = (gid.raw[i] << 8) | gid.raw[i + 1];
+    os << std::setw(4) << part;
+    if (i < 14)
+      os << ":";
+  }
+  os << std::dec;
+  return os;
+}
+
+void* page_aligned_alloc(size_t num_bytes) {
+  static size_t page_size = sysconf(_SC_PAGESIZE);
+  void * buf;
+  if (posix_memalign(&buf, page_size, num_bytes)) {
+    return nullptr;
+  }
+  return buf;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Contains the information that defines a destination to a remote device.
+ * Basically we can compute our own destination and share it with remote hosts
+ * over the side channel.
+ */
+struct Destination {
+  int local_id;
+  int queue_pair_number;
+  int packet_sequence_number;
+  ibv_gid global_identifier;
+};
+
+/**
+ * A buffer that can be registered to a number of protection domains.
+ */
+class SharedBuffer {
+ public:
+  SharedBuffer(size_t num_bytes)
+      : data_(page_aligned_alloc(num_bytes)),
+        num_bytes_(num_bytes) {}
+  ~SharedBuffer() {
+    for (auto& [pd, mr] : memory_regions_) {
+      ibv_dereg_mr(mr);
+    }
+    if (data_ != nullptr) {
+      std::free(data_);
+    }
+  }
+
+  SharedBuffer(const SharedBuffer&) = delete;
+  SharedBuffer& operator=(const SharedBuffer&) = delete;
+  SharedBuffer(SharedBuffer&& b)
+      : data_(nullptr), num_bytes_(0) {
+    std::swap(data_, b.data_);
+    std::swap(num_bytes_, b.num_bytes_);
+    std::swap(memory_regions_, b.memory_regions_);
+  }
+
+  void register_to_protection_domain(ibv_pd* protection_domain) {
+    auto [it, inserted] = memory_regions_.insert({protection_domain, nullptr});
+    if (!inserted) {
+      throw std::runtime_error(
+          "[ibv] Buffer can be registered once per protection domain");
+    }
+
+    it->second = ibv_reg_mr(
+        protection_domain,
+        data_,
+        num_bytes_,
+        IBV_ACCESS_LOCAL_WRITE | IBV_ACCESS_REMOTE_READ |
+            IBV_ACCESS_REMOTE_WRITE);
+    if (!it->second) {
+      throw std::runtime_error("[ibv] Register memory region failed");
+    }
+  }
+
+  size_t size() const {
+    return num_bytes_;
+  }
+
+  uint32_t local_key(ibv_pd* protection_domain) const {
+    return memory_regions_.at(protection_domain)->lkey;
+  }
+
+  ibv_sge to_scatter_gather_entry(ibv_pd* protection_domain) const {
+    ibv_sge entry;
+    entry.addr = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(data_);
+    entry.length = size();
+    entry.lkey = local_key(protection_domain);
+    return entry;
+  }
+
+  template <typename T>
+  T* data() {
+    return static_cast<T*>(data_);
+  }
+
+  template <typename T>
+  T* begin() {
+    return static_cast<T*>(data_);
+  }
+
+  template <typename T>
+  T* end() {
+    return static_cast<T*>(data_) + size() / sizeof(T);
+  }
+
+ private:
+  void* data_;
+  size_t num_bytes_;
+  std::unordered_map<ibv_pd*, ibv_mr*> memory_regions_;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Manipulates an RDMA connection. Enables (among other things)
+ *
+ *   - Creating a queue pair
+ *   - Sending and receiving
+ *   - Checking completion
+ */
+struct Connection {
+  ibv_context* ctx;
+  ibv_pd* protection_domain;
+  ibv_cq* completion_queue;
+  ibv_qp* queue_pair;
+  Destination src; // holds the local information
+
+  Connection(ibv_context* ctx_)
+      : ctx(ctx_),
+        protection_domain(nullptr),
+        completion_queue(nullptr),
+        queue_pair(nullptr) {
+    src.local_id = -1;
+  }
+
+  Connection(Connection&& c) : Connection(nullptr) {
+    std::swap(ctx, c.ctx);
+    std::swap(protection_domain, c.protection_domain);
+    std::swap(completion_queue, c.completion_queue);
+    std::swap(queue_pair, c.queue_pair);
+    std::swap(src, c.src);
+  }
+
+  Connection(const Connection&) = delete;
+  Connection& operator=(Connection&) = delete;
+
+  ~Connection() {
+    if (queue_pair != nullptr) {
+      ibv_destroy_qp(queue_pair);
+    }
+    if (completion_queue != nullptr) {
+      ibv_destroy_cq(completion_queue);
+    }
+    if (protection_domain != nullptr) {
+      ibv_dealloc_pd(protection_domain);
+    }
+    if (ctx != nullptr) {
+      ibv_close_device(ctx);
+    }
+  }
+
+  void allocate_protection_domain() {
+    protection_domain = ibv_alloc_pd(ctx);
+    if (protection_domain == nullptr) {
+      throw std::runtime_error("[ibv] Couldn't allocate protection domain");
+    }
+  }
+
+  void create_completion_queue(int num_entries) {
+    completion_queue = ibv_create_cq(ctx, num_entries, nullptr, nullptr, 0);
+    if (completion_queue == nullptr) {
+      throw std::runtime_error("[ibv] Couldn't create completion queue");
+    }
+  }
+
+  void create_queue_pair() {
+    ibv_qp_init_attr init_attr;
+    init_attr.qp_context = ctx;
+    init_attr.qp_context = ctx;
+    init_attr.send_cq = completion_queue;
+    init_attr.recv_cq = completion_queue;
+    init_attr.srq = nullptr;
+    init_attr.cap.max_send_wr = MAX_SEND_WR;
+    init_attr.cap.max_recv_wr = MAX_RECV_WR;
+    init_attr.cap.max_send_sge = 1;
+    init_attr.cap.max_recv_sge = 1;
+    init_attr.cap.max_inline_data = 0;
+    init_attr.qp_type = IBV_QPT_UC;
+    init_attr.sq_sig_all = 0;
+
+    queue_pair = ibv_create_qp(protection_domain, &init_attr);
+
+    if (queue_pair == nullptr) {
+      throw std::runtime_error("[ibv] Couldn't create queue pair");
+    }
+  }
+
+  const Destination& info() {
+    if (queue_pair == nullptr || src.local_id >= 0) {
+      return src;
+    }
+
+    ibv_port_attr port_attr;
+    ibv_query_port(ctx, 1, &port_attr);
+    ibv_gid gid;
+    ibv_query_gid(ctx, 1, 1, &gid);
+
+    src.local_id = port_attr.lid;
+    src.queue_pair_number = queue_pair->qp_num;
+    src.packet_sequence_number = 7; // TODO: Change to sth random
+    src.global_identifier = gid;
+
+    return src;
+  }
+
+  void queue_pair_init() {
+    ibv_qp_attr attr = {};
+    attr.qp_state = IBV_QPS_INIT;
+    attr.port_num = 1;
+    attr.pkey_index = 0;
+    attr.qp_access_flags = IBV_ACCESS_LOCAL_WRITE | IBV_ACCESS_REMOTE_READ |
+        IBV_ACCESS_REMOTE_WRITE;
+
+    int mask =
+        IBV_QP_STATE | IBV_QP_PKEY_INDEX | IBV_QP_PORT | IBV_QP_ACCESS_FLAGS;
+
+    if (int status = ibv_modify_qp(queue_pair, &attr, mask); status != 0) {
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << "[ibv] Changing queue pair to INIT failed with errno " << status;
+      throw std::invalid_argument(msg.str());
+    }
+  }
+
+  void queue_pair_rtr(const Destination& dst) {
+    ibv_qp_attr attr = {};
+    memset(&attr, 0, sizeof(attr));
+    attr.qp_state = IBV_QPS_RTR;
+    attr.path_mtu = IBV_MTU_1024;
+    attr.rq_psn = dst.packet_sequence_number;
+    attr.dest_qp_num = dst.queue_pair_number;
+    attr.ah_attr.dlid = dst.local_id;
+    attr.ah_attr.sl = 0;
+    attr.ah_attr.src_path_bits = 0;
+    attr.ah_attr.port_num = 1;
+    attr.ah_attr.is_global = 0;
+
+    if (dst.global_identifier.global.interface_id) {
+      attr.ah_attr.is_global = 1;
+      attr.ah_attr.grh.hop_limit = 1;
+      attr.ah_attr.grh.dgid = dst.global_identifier;
+      attr.ah_attr.grh.sgid_index = 1;
+    }
+
+    int mask = IBV_QP_STATE | IBV_QP_AV | IBV_QP_PATH_MTU | IBV_QP_DEST_QPN |
+        IBV_QP_RQ_PSN;
+
+    if (int status = ibv_modify_qp(queue_pair, &attr, mask); status != 0) {
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << "[ibv] Changing queue pair to RTR failed with errno " << status;
+      throw std::invalid_argument(msg.str());
+    }
+  }
+
+  void queue_pair_rts() {
+    ibv_qp_attr attr = {};
+    attr.qp_state = IBV_QPS_RTS;
+    attr.sq_psn = src.packet_sequence_number;
+
+    int mask = IBV_QP_STATE | IBV_QP_SQ_PSN;
+
+    if (int status = ibv_modify_qp(queue_pair, &attr, mask); status != 0) {
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << "[ibv] Changing queue pair to RTS failed with errno " << status;
+      throw std::invalid_argument(msg.str());
+    }
+  }
+
+  void post_send(const SharedBuffer& buff, uint64_t work_request_id) {
+    ibv_send_wr work_request, *bad_work_request;
+
+    auto entry = buff.to_scatter_gather_entry(protection_domain);
+    work_request.wr_id = work_request_id;
+    work_request.sg_list = &entry;
+    work_request.num_sge = 1;
+    work_request.opcode = IBV_WR_SEND;
+    work_request.send_flags = IBV_SEND_SIGNALED;
+    work_request.next = nullptr;
+
+    if (int status =
+            ibv_post_send(queue_pair, &work_request, &bad_work_request);
+        status != 0) {
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << "[ibv] Send failed with error code " << status;
+      throw std::invalid_argument(msg.str());
+    }
+  }
+
+  void post_recv(const SharedBuffer& buff, uint64_t work_request_id) {
+    ibv_recv_wr work_request, *bad_work_request;
+
+    auto entry = buff.to_scatter_gather_entry(protection_domain);
+    work_request.wr_id = work_request_id;
+    work_request.sg_list = &entry;
+    work_request.num_sge = 1;
+    work_request.next = nullptr;
+
+    if (int status =
+            ibv_post_recv(queue_pair, &work_request, &bad_work_request);
+        status != 0) {
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << "[ibv] Recv failed with error code " << status;
+      throw std::invalid_argument(msg.str());
+    }
+  }
+};
+
+/**
+ * Implement a TCP side channel to exchange information about the RDMA
+ * connections.
+ *
+ * Implements a simple all gather where every node sends to rank 0 and rank 0
+ * broadcasts to every node.
+ */
+class SideChannel {
+ public:
+  SideChannel(int rank, int size, const char* addr) : rank_(rank), size_(size) {
+    auto address = detail::parse_address(addr);
+
+    if (rank_ == 0) {
+      detail::TCPSocket server(IBV_TAG);
+      server.listen(IBV_TAG, address);
+
+      for (int i = 0; i < size - 1; i++) {
+        sockets_.push_back(server.accept(IBV_TAG));
+      }
+    } else {
+      sockets_.push_back(detail::TCPSocket::connect(
+          IBV_TAG, address, 4, 1000, [](int attempt, int wait) {
+            std::cerr << IBV_TAG << " Connection attempt " << attempt
+                      << " waiting " << wait << " ms" << std::endl;
+          }));
+    }
+  }
+
+  SideChannel(const SideChannel&) = delete;
+  SideChannel& operator=(const SideChannel&) = delete;
+
+  SideChannel(SideChannel&& sc)
+      : rank_(sc.rank_), size_(sc.size_), sockets_(std::move(sc.sockets_)) {
+    sc.rank_ = -1;
+    sc.size_ = -1;
+  }
+
+  template <typename T>
+  std::vector<T> all_gather(const T& v) {
+    std::vector<T> result(size_);
+
+    // T is a container of stuff like std::vector or std::string
+    if constexpr (is_container<T>::value) {
+      using U = typename T::value_type;
+
+      // Share the lengths first and set the communication size to be the
+      // maximum length of the containers.
+      auto lengths = all_gather<int>(v.size());
+      auto max_len = *std::max_element(lengths.begin(), lengths.end());
+      for (auto& s : result) {
+        s.resize(max_len);
+      }
+
+      // All gather of length max_len
+      if (rank_ == 0) {
+        std::copy(v.begin(), v.end(), result[rank_].begin());
+        for (int i = 1; i < size_; i++) {
+          sockets_[i - 1].recv(IBV_TAG, result[i].data(), sizeof(U) * max_len);
+        }
+        for (int i = 1; i < size_; i++) {
+          for (int j = 0; j < size_; j++) {
+            sockets_[i - 1].send(
+                IBV_TAG, result[j].data(), sizeof(U) * max_len);
+          }
+        }
+      } else {
+        std::copy(v.begin(), v.end(), result[rank_].begin());
+        sockets_[0].send(IBV_TAG, result[rank_].data(), sizeof(U) * max_len);
+        for (int i = 0; i < size_; i++) {
+          sockets_[0].recv(IBV_TAG, result[i].data(), sizeof(U) * max_len);
+        }
+      }
+
+      // Resize the outputs back to the original length
+      for (int i = 0; i < size_; i++) {
+        result[i].resize(lengths[i]);
+      }
+    }
+
+    // T is a scalar
+    else {
+      if (rank_ == 0) {
+        result[rank_] = v;
+        for (int i = 1; i < size_; i++) {
+          sockets_[i - 1].recv(IBV_TAG, &result[i], sizeof(T));
+        }
+        for (int i = 1; i < size_; i++) {
+          sockets_[i - 1].send(IBV_TAG, result.data(), size_ * sizeof(T));
+        }
+      } else {
+        sockets_[0].send(IBV_TAG, &v, sizeof(T));
+        sockets_[0].recv(IBV_TAG, result.data(), size_ * sizeof(T));
+      }
+    }
+
+    return result;
+  }
+
+ private:
+  int rank_;
+  int size_;
+  std::vector<detail::TCPSocket> sockets_;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Manages a set of connections. Among other things it uses a side channel to
+ * exchange the necessary information and then configure the connections to be
+ * ready for RDMA operations.
+ */
+class ConnectionManager {
+ public:
+  ConnectionManager(
+      int rank,
+      const std::vector<std::string>& device_names,
+      const char* coordinator_addr)
+      : rank_(rank),
+        size_(device_names.size()),
+        side_channel_(rank_, size_, coordinator_addr) {
+    create_contexts(device_names);
+    if (connections_[rank_].ctx != nullptr) {
+      throw std::runtime_error("[ibv] Malformed device file");
+    }
+  }
+
+  int rank() const {
+    return rank_;
+  }
+
+  int size() const {
+    return size_;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Performs the connection initialization. Namely, after this call all
+   * Connection objects should have a queue pair in RTS state.
+   */
+  void initialize(int num_buffers, size_t num_bytes) {
+    // Create the queue pairs
+    for (auto& conn : connections_) {
+      if (conn.ctx == nullptr) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      conn.allocate_protection_domain();
+      conn.create_completion_queue(MAX_SEND_WR + MAX_RECV_WR);
+      conn.create_queue_pair();
+    }
+
+    allocate_buffers(num_buffers, num_bytes);
+
+    // Gather the information to be exchanged
+    std::vector<Destination> info;
+    for (auto& conn : connections_) {
+      info.emplace_back(conn.info());
+    }
+    auto all_infos = side_channel_.all_gather(info);
+
+    // Transition queue pairs to RTS
+    for (int peer = 0; peer < size_; peer++) {
+      if (peer == rank_) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      auto peer_info = all_infos[peer][rank_];
+      connections_[peer].queue_pair_init();
+      connections_[peer].queue_pair_rtr(peer_info);
+      connections_[peer].queue_pair_rts();
+    }
+  }
+
+  void allocate_buffers(int num_buffers, size_t num_bytes) {
+    // Deregister any buffers and free the memory
+    buffers_.clear();
+
+    // Allocate the memory
+    for (int i = 0; i < num_buffers; i++) {
+      for (int j = 0; j < size_; j++) {
+        buffers_.emplace_back(num_bytes);
+      }
+    }
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < num_buffers; i++) {
+      for (int j = 0; j < size_; j++) {
+        // This is our send buffer so register it with all pds so we can send
+        // it to all connected devices.
+        if (j == rank_) {
+          for (auto& conn : connections_) {
+            if (conn.ctx != nullptr) {
+              buffers_[i * size_ + j].register_to_protection_domain(
+                  conn.protection_domain);
+            }
+          }
+        }
+
+        // This is the recv buffer from rank j so register it to rank j's
+        // protection domain.
+        else {
+          buffers_[i * size_ + j].register_to_protection_domain(
+              connections_[j].protection_domain);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  void send_to(int rank, int buff) {
+    connections_[rank].post_send(
+        buffers_[buff * size_ + rank_],
+        SEND_WR << 16 | buff << 8 | rank);
+  }
+
+  void recv_from(int rank, int buff) {
+    connections_[rank].post_recv(
+        buffers_[buff * size_ + rank], RECV_WR << 16 | buff << 8 | rank);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Poll all connections and save the work completions and return the
+   * corresponding length.
+   */
+  int poll(int num_completions, ibv_wc* work_completions) {
+    int completions = 0;
+    for (int r = 0; r < size_; r++) {
+      if (r == rank_) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      if (completions >= num_completions) {
+        return completions;
+      }
+
+      int c = ibv_poll_cq(
+          connections_[r].completion_queue,
+          num_completions - completions,
+          work_completions + completions);
+
+      completions += c;
+    }
+    return completions;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   *
+   */
+  int poll(int rank, int num_completions, ibv_wc* work_completions) {
+    return ibv_poll_cq(
+        connections_[rank].completion_queue,
+        num_completions,
+        work_completions);
+  }
+
+  SharedBuffer& send_buffer(int buff) {
+    return buffers_[buff * size_ + rank_];
+  }
+
+  SharedBuffer& buffer(int rank, int buff) {
+    return buffers_[buff * size_ + rank];
+  }
+
+  void barrier() {
+    side_channel_.all_gather<int>(0);
+  }
+
+ private:
+  void create_contexts(const std::vector<std::string>& device_names) {
+    int num_devices = 0;
+    ibv_device** devices = ibv_get_device_list(&num_devices);
+    for (auto& name : device_names) {
+      // Empty so add a nullptr context
+      if (name.empty()) {
+        connections_.emplace_back(nullptr);
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      // Search for the name and try to open the device
+      for (int i = 0; i < num_devices; i++) {
+        if (name == ibv_get_device_name(devices[i])) {
+          auto ctx = ibv_open_device(devices[i]);
+          if (ctx == nullptr) {
+            std::ostringstream msg;
+            msg << "[ibv] Could not open device " << name;
+            throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+          }
+          connections_.emplace_back(ctx);
+          break;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    ibv_free_device_list(devices);
+  }
+
+  int rank_;
+  int size_;
+  SideChannel side_channel_;
+  std::vector<Connection> connections_;
+  std::vector<SharedBuffer> buffers_;
+};
+
+template <typename T>
+struct SumOp {
+  void operator()(const T* input, T* output, size_t N) const {
+    while (N-- > 0) {
+      *output += *input;
+      input++;
+      output++;
+    }
+  }
+};
+
+std::vector<std::string> load_device_names(int rank, const char* dev_file) {
+  std::vector<std::string> device_names;
+  std::ifstream f(dev_file);
+
+  json devices = json::parse(f);
+  devices = devices[rank];
+  for (auto it = devices.begin(); it != devices.end(); it++) {
+    std::string n;
+    if (!it->is_null()) {
+      n = *it;
+    }
+    device_names.emplace_back(std::move(n));
+  }
+
+  return device_names;
+}
+
+namespace mlx::core::distributed::ibv {
+
+class IBVGroup : public GroupImpl {
+ public:
+  IBVGroup(ConnectionManager cm) : cm_(std::move(cm)), rank_(cm.rank()), size_(cm.size()) {}
+
+  Stream communication_stream(StreamOrDevice s) override {
+    return to_stream(s, Device::cpu);
+  }
+
+  int rank() override {
+    return cm_.rank();
+  }
+
+  int size() override {
+    return cm_.size();
+  }
+
+  void all_sum(const array& input, array& output, Stream stream) override {
+    dispatch_all_types(output.dtype(), [&](auto type_tag) {
+      using T = MLX_GET_TYPE(type_tag);
+      all_reduce<T>(input, output, stream, SumOp<T>{});
+    });
+  }
+
+  void all_max(const array& input, array& output, Stream stream) override {
+  }
+
+  void all_min(const array& input, array& output, Stream stream) override {
+  }
+
+  void all_gather(const array& input, array& output, Stream stream) override {
+  }
+
+  void send(const array& input, int dst, Stream stream) override {
+  }
+
+  void recv(array& out, int src, Stream stream) override {
+  }
+
+  std::shared_ptr<GroupImpl> split(int color, int key = -1) override {
+    throw std::runtime_error("[ibv] Group split not supported.");
+  }
+
+ private:
+  void post_recv_all(int buffer) {
+    for (int i = 0; i < size_; i++) {
+      if (i == rank_) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      cm_.recv_from(i, buffer);
+    }
+  }
+
+  void post_send_all(int buffer) {
+    for (int i = 0; i < size_; i++) {
+      if (i == rank_) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      cm_.send_to(i, buffer);
+    }
+  }
+
+  template <typename T, typename ReduceOp>
+  void all_reduce(
+      const array& input,
+      array& output,
+      Stream stream,
+      ReduceOp reduce_op) {
+    auto in_ptr = input.data<T>();
+    auto out_ptr = output.data<T>();
+    auto& encoder = cpu::get_command_encoder(stream);
+    encoder.set_output_array(output);
+    encoder.dispatch([in_ptr, out_ptr, size = input.size(), this, reduce_op]() {
+      // If not inplace all reduce then copy the input to the output first
+      if (in_ptr != out_ptr) {
+        std::memcpy(out_ptr, in_ptr, size * sizeof(T));
+      }
+
+      // Fully connected all reduce
+      T* data = out_ptr;
+      constexpr int64_t N = BUFFER_SIZE / sizeof(T);
+      int64_t total = static_cast<int64_t>(size);
+      int64_t offset = N;
+      int a = 0, b = 1;
+
+      int mask_init = 1 << rank_;
+      int mask_target = (1 << size_) - 1;
+
+      // Handle the first piece of data.
+      post_recv_all(a);
+      std::copy(
+          data,
+          data + std::min(N, total),
+          cm_.send_buffer(a).begin<T>());
+      post_send_all(a);
+
+      int mask_a_send = mask_init;
+      int mask_a_recv = mask_init;
+      int mask_b_send = mask_init;
+      int mask_b_recv = mask_init;
+
+      while (offset < total) {
+        // While the previous chunk is in flight copy to the next send buffer
+        std::copy(
+            data + offset,
+            data + std::min(offset + N, total),
+            cm_.send_buffer(b).begin<T>());
+
+        // Send if the previous send is already done
+        for (int i = 0, m = 1; i < size_; i++, m *= 2) {
+          if (i == rank_) {
+            continue;
+          }
+          if (mask_a_send & m) {
+            cm_.send_to(i, b);
+          }
+        }
+
+        // Recv the next buffer if the previous one is already done
+        for (int i = 0, m = 1; i < size_; i++, m *= 2) {
+          if (i == rank_) {
+            continue;
+          }
+          if (mask_a_recv & m) {
+            cm_.recv_from(i, b);
+            reduce_op(
+                cm_.buffer(i, a).begin<T>(),
+                data + std::max(offset - N, 0LL),
+                std::min(N, total - offset));
+          }
+        }
+
+        // Loop until this chunk is all done
+        while (mask_a_send != mask_target || mask_a_recv != mask_target) {
+          ibv_wc wc[8];
+          int n = cm_.poll(8, wc);
+          for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+            int work_type = wc[i].wr_id >> 16;
+            int buff = (wc[i].wr_id >> 8) & 0xff;
+            int rank = wc[i].wr_id & 0xff;
+
+            if (work_type == SEND_WR) {
+              if (buff == a) {
+                cm_.send_to(rank, b);
+                mask_a_send |= 1 << rank;
+              } else {
+                mask_b_send |= 1 << rank;
+              }
+            } else {
+              if (buff == a) {
+                cm_.recv_from(rank, b);
+                mask_a_recv |= 1 << rank;
+                reduce_op(
+                    cm_.buffer(rank, a).begin<T>(),
+                    data + std::max(offset - N, 0LL),
+                    std::min(N, total - offset));
+              } else {
+                mask_b_recv |= 1 << rank;
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        }
+
+        std::swap(a, b);
+        mask_a_send = mask_b_send;
+        mask_a_recv = mask_b_recv;
+        mask_b_send = mask_init;
+        mask_b_recv = mask_init;
+        offset += N;
+      }
+
+      {
+        while (mask_a_send != mask_target || mask_a_recv != mask_target) {
+          ibv_wc wc[8];
+          int n = cm_.poll(8, wc);
+          for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+            int work_type = wc[i].wr_id >> 16;
+            int buff = (wc[i].wr_id >> 8) & 0xff;
+            int rank = wc[i].wr_id & 0xff;
+
+            if (work_type == SEND_WR) {
+              mask_a_send |= 1 << rank;
+            } else {
+              mask_a_recv |= 1 << rank;
+              reduce_op(
+                  cm_.buffer(rank, a).begin<T>(),
+                  data + offset - N,
+                  std::min(N, total + N - offset));
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    });
+  }
+
+  ConnectionManager cm_;
+  int rank_;
+  int size_;
+};
+
+bool is_available() {
+  return true;
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<GroupImpl> init(bool strict /* = false */) {
+  const char* dev_file = std::getenv("MLX_IBV_DEVICES");
+  const char* coordinator = std::getenv("MLX_IBV_COORDINATOR");
+  const char* rank_str = std::getenv("MLX_RANK");
+  const char* ring_verbose = std::getenv("MLX_IBV_VERBOSE");
+
+  if (!dev_file || !coordinator || !rank_str) {
+    if (strict) {
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << "[ibv] You need to provide via environment variables a rank (MLX_RANK), "
+          << "a device file (MLX_IBV_DEVICES) and a coordinator ip/port (MLX_IBV_COORDINATOR) "
+          << "but provided MLX_RANK=\"" << ((rank_str) ? rank_str : "")
+          << "\", MLX_IBV_DEVICES=\"" << ((dev_file) ? dev_file : "")
+          << "\" and MLX_IBV_COORDINATOR=\""
+          << ((coordinator) ? coordinator : "");
+      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+    }
+    return nullptr;
+  }
+
+  auto rank = std::atoi(rank_str);
+  auto device_names = load_device_names(rank, dev_file);
+
+  auto cm = ConnectionManager(rank, device_names, coordinator);
+  if (cm.size() > MAX_PEERS) {
+    std::ostringstream msg;
+    msg << "[ibv] The maximum number of supported peers is "
+        << MAX_PEERS << " but " << cm.size() << " was provided";
+    throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+  }
+
+  cm.initialize(NUM_BUFFERS, BUFFER_SIZE);
+  cm.barrier();
+
+  return std::make_shared<IBVGroup>(std::move(cm));
+
+  //cm.recv_from(rank ^ 1, 0);
+  //cm.barrier();
+  //std::fill(
+  //    cm.buffer(rank, 0).begin<int>(),
+  //    cm.buffer(rank, 0).end<int>(),
+  //    2 * rank + 1);
+  //cm.barrier();
+  //cm.send_to(rank ^ 1, 0);
+
+  //ibv_wc wc[8];
+  //bool sent = false, recvd = false;
+  //while (!(sent && recvd)) {
+  //  int num_completions = cm.poll(8, wc);
+  //  for (int i = 0; i < num_completions; i++) {
+  //    if (wc[i].status != IBV_WC_SUCCESS) {
+  //      std::cout << "Error " << wc[i].status << std::endl;
+  //    }
+
+  //    int work_type = wc[i].wr_id >> 16;
+  //    int buff = (wc[i].wr_id >> 8) & 0xff;
+  //    int rank = wc[i].wr_id & 0xff;
+
+  //    std::cout << work_type << " " << buff << " " << rank << std::endl;
+  //    print_wc(wc[i]);
+
+  //    sent |= (work_type == SEND_WR);
+  //    recvd |= (work_type == RECV_WR);
+  //  }
+  //}
+
+  //std::cout << rank << " ours " << *cm.buffer(rank, 0).data<int>() << std::endl;
+  //std::cout << rank << " theirs " << *cm.buffer(rank ^ 1, 0).data<int>()
+  //          << std::endl;
+
+  //return nullptr;
+}
+
+} // namespace mlx::core::distributed::ibv

mlx/distributed/ibv/ibv.h

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+// Copyright © 2025 Apple Inc.
+
+#include "mlx/distributed/distributed.h"
+
+namespace mlx::core::distributed::ibv {
+
+using GroupImpl = mlx::core::distributed::detail::GroupImpl;
+
+bool is_available();
+std::shared_ptr<GroupImpl> init(bool strict = false);
+
+} // namespace mlx::core::distributed::ibv

mlx/distributed/ring/ring.cpp

@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 // Copyright © 2024 Apple Inc.
 
-#include <arpa/inet.h>
 #include <fcntl.h>
-#include <netdb.h>
-#include <netinet/in.h>
 #include <netinet/tcp.h>
 #include <sys/socket.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
@@ -22,6 +19,7 @@
 #include "mlx/backend/cpu/encoder.h"
 #include "mlx/distributed/distributed.h"
 #include "mlx/distributed/distributed_impl.h"
+#include "mlx/distributed/utils.h"
 #include "mlx/threadpool.h"
 
 #ifndef SOL_TCP
@@ -94,6 +92,7 @@ constexpr const size_t ALL_SUM_SIZE = 8 * 1024 * 1024;
 constexpr const size_t ALL_SUM_BUFFERS = 2;
 constexpr const int CONN_ATTEMPTS = 5;
 constexpr const int CONN_WAIT = 1000;
+constexpr const char* RING_TAG = "[ring]";
 
 using GroupImpl = mlx::core::distributed::detail::GroupImpl;
 using json = nlohmann::json;
@@ -296,55 +295,6 @@ class CommunicationThreads {
   std::unordered_map<int, SocketThread> threads_;
 };
 
-struct address_t {
-  sockaddr_storage addr;
-  socklen_t len;
-
-  const sockaddr* get() const {
-    return (struct sockaddr*)&addr;
-  }
-};
-
-/**
- * Parse a sockaddr from an ip and port provided as strings.
- */
-address_t parse_address(const std::string& ip, const std::string& port) {
-  struct addrinfo hints, *res;
-  memset(&hints, 0, sizeof(hints));
-  hints.ai_family = AF_UNSPEC;
-  hints.ai_socktype = SOCK_STREAM;
-
-  int status = getaddrinfo(ip.c_str(), port.c_str(), &hints, &res);
-  if (status != 0) {
-    std::ostringstream msg;
-    msg << "Can't parse address " << ip << ":" << port;
-    throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
-  }
-
-  address_t result;
-  memcpy(&result.addr, res->ai_addr, res->ai_addrlen);
-  result.len = res->ai_addrlen;
-  freeaddrinfo(res);
-
-  return result;
-}
-
-/**
- * Parse a sockaddr provided as an <ip>:<port> string.
- */
-address_t parse_address(const std::string& ip_port) {
-  auto colon = ip_port.find(":");
-  if (colon == std::string::npos) {
-    std::ostringstream msg;
-    msg << "Can't parse address " << ip_port;
-    throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
-  }
-  std::string ip(ip_port.begin(), ip_port.begin() + colon);
-  std::string port(ip_port.begin() + colon + 1, ip_port.end());
-
-  return parse_address(ip, port);
-}
-
 /**
  * Load all addresses from the json hostfile. The hostfile is a list of
  * addresses in order of rank. For each rank there can be many addresses so
@@ -357,15 +307,15 @@ address_t parse_address(const std::string& ip_port) {
  *    ["ip3:5000", "ip3:5001"],
  *  ]
  */
-std::vector<std::vector<address_t>> load_nodes(const char* hostfile) {
-  std::vector<std::vector<address_t>> nodes;
+std::vector<std::vector<detail::address_t>> load_nodes(const char* hostfile) {
+  std::vector<std::vector<detail::address_t>> nodes;
   std::ifstream f(hostfile);
 
   json hosts = json::parse(f);
   for (auto& h : hosts) {
-    std::vector<address_t> host;
+    std::vector<detail::address_t> host;
     for (auto& ips : h) {
-      host.push_back(parse_address(ips.get<std::string>()));
+      host.push_back(std::move(detail::parse_address(ips.get<std::string>())));
     }
     nodes.push_back(std::move(host));
   }
@@ -377,73 +327,15 @@ std::vector<std::vector<address_t>> load_nodes(const char* hostfile) {
  * Create a socket and accept one connection for each of the provided
  * addresses.
  */
-std::vector<int> accept_connections(const std::vector<address_t>& addresses) {
+std::vector<int> accept_connections(
+    const std::vector<detail::address_t>& addresses) {
   std::vector<int> sockets;
   int success;
 
   for (auto& address : addresses) {
-    // Create the socket to wait for connections from the peers
-    int sock = socket(AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
-    if (sock < 0) {
-      std::ostringstream msg;
-      msg << "[ring] Couldn't create socket (error: " << errno << ")";
-      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
-    }
-
-    // Make sure we can launch immediately after shutdown by setting the
-    // reuseaddr option so that we don't get address already in use errors
-    int enable = 1;
-    success = setsockopt(sock, SOL_SOCKET, SO_REUSEADDR, &enable, sizeof(int));
-    if (success < 0) {
-      shutdown(sock, 2);
-      close(sock);
-      std::ostringstream msg;
-      msg << "[ring] Couldn't enable reuseaddr (error: " << errno << ")";
-      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
-    }
-    success = setsockopt(sock, SOL_SOCKET, SO_REUSEPORT, &enable, sizeof(int));
-    if (success < 0) {
-      shutdown(sock, 2);
-      close(sock);
-      std::ostringstream msg;
-      msg << "[ring] Couldn't enable reuseport (error: " << errno << ")";
-      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
-    }
-
-    // Bind the socket to the address and port
-    success = bind(sock, address.get(), address.len);
-    if (success < 0) {
-      shutdown(sock, 2);
-      close(sock);
-      std::ostringstream msg;
-      msg << "[ring] Couldn't bind socket (error: " << errno << ")";
-      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
-    }
-
-    // Wait for connections
-    success = listen(sock, 0);
-    if (success < 0) {
-      shutdown(sock, 2);
-      close(sock);
-      std::ostringstream msg;
-      msg << "[ring] Couldn't listen (error: " << errno << ")";
-      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
-    }
-
-    int peer_socket = accept(sock, nullptr, nullptr);
-    if (peer_socket < 0) {
-      shutdown(sock, 2);
-      close(sock);
-      std::ostringstream msg;
-      msg << "[ring] Accept failed (error: " << errno << ")";
-      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
-    }
-
-    // Close the listening socket
-    shutdown(sock, 2);
-    close(sock);
-
-    sockets.push_back(peer_socket);
+    detail::TCPSocket socket(RING_TAG);
+    socket.listen(RING_TAG, address);
+    sockets.push_back(socket.accept(RING_TAG));
   }
 
   return sockets;
@@ -454,55 +346,33 @@ std::vector<int> accept_connections(const std::vector<address_t>& addresses) {
  * provided addresses.
  */
 std::vector<int> make_connections(
-    const std::vector<address_t>& addresses,
+    const std::vector<detail::address_t>& addresses,
     bool verbose) {
   std::vector<int> sockets;
   int success;
 
   for (auto& address : addresses) {
-    int sock;
-
-    // Attempt to connect to the peer CONN_ATTEMPTS times with exponential
-    // backoff. TODO: Do we need that?
-    for (int attempt = 0; attempt < CONN_ATTEMPTS; attempt++) {
-      // Create the socket
-      sock = socket(AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
-      if (sock < 0) {
-        std::ostringstream msg;
-        msg << "[ring] Couldn't create socket (error: " << errno << ")";
-        throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
-      }
-
-      if (attempt > 0) {
-        int wait = (1 << (attempt - 1)) * CONN_WAIT;
-        log_info(
-            verbose,
-            "Attempt",
-            attempt,
-            "wait",
-            wait,
-            "ms (error:",
-            errno,
-            ")");
-        std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(wait));
-      }
-
-      success = connect(sock, address.get(), address.len);
-      if (success == 0) {
-        break;
-      }
-    }
-    if (success < 0) {
-      std::ostringstream msg;
-      msg << "[ring] Couldn't connect (error: " << errno << ")";
-      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
-    }
-
-    sockets.push_back(sock);
+    sockets.push_back(detail::TCPSocket::connect(
+        RING_TAG,
+        address,
+        CONN_ATTEMPTS,
+        CONN_WAIT,
+        [verbose](int attempt, int wait) {
+          log_info(
+              verbose,
+              "Attempt",
+              attempt,
+              "waiting",
+              wait,
+              "ms (error:",
+              errno,
+              ")");
+        }));
   }
 
   return sockets;
 }
+
 template <typename T>
 struct SumOp {
   void operator()(const T* input, T* output, size_t N) {
@@ -540,7 +410,10 @@ struct MinOp {
 
 class RingGroup : public GroupImpl {
  public:
-  RingGroup(int rank, std::vector<std::vector<address_t>> nodes, bool verbose)
+  RingGroup(
+      int rank,
+      std::vector<std::vector<detail::address_t>> nodes,
+      bool verbose)
       : rank_(rank), verbose_(verbose), pool_(0) {
     if (rank_ > 0 && rank_ >= nodes.size()) {
       throw std::runtime_error(

mlx/distributed/utils.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
+// Copyright © 2025 Apple Inc.
+
+#include <netdb.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <sstream>
+#include <thread>
+
+#include "mlx/distributed/utils.h"
+
+namespace mlx::core::distributed::detail {
+
+/**
+ * Parse a sockaddr from an ip and port provided as strings.
+ */
+address_t parse_address(const std::string& ip, const std::string& port) {
+  struct addrinfo hints, *res;
+  memset(&hints, 0, sizeof(hints));
+  hints.ai_family = AF_UNSPEC;
+  hints.ai_socktype = SOCK_STREAM;
+
+  int status = getaddrinfo(ip.c_str(), port.c_str(), &hints, &res);
+  if (status != 0) {
+    std::ostringstream msg;
+    msg << "Can't parse address " << ip << ":" << port;
+    throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+  }
+
+  address_t result;
+  memcpy(&result.addr, res->ai_addr, res->ai_addrlen);
+  result.len = res->ai_addrlen;
+  freeaddrinfo(res);
+
+  return result;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Parse a sockaddr provided as an <ip>:<port> string.
+ */
+address_t parse_address(const std::string& ip_port) {
+  auto colon = ip_port.find(":");
+  if (colon == std::string::npos) {
+    std::ostringstream msg;
+    msg << "Can't parse address " << ip_port;
+    throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+  }
+  std::string ip(ip_port.begin(), ip_port.begin() + colon);
+  std::string port(ip_port.begin() + colon + 1, ip_port.end());
+
+  return parse_address(ip, port);
+}
+
+TCPSocket::TCPSocket(const char* tag) {
+  sock_ = socket(AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
+  if (sock_ < 0) {
+    std::ostringstream msg;
+    msg << tag << " Couldn't create socket (error: " << errno << ")";
+    throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+  }
+}
+
+TCPSocket::TCPSocket(TCPSocket&& s) {
+  sock_ = s.sock_;
+  s.sock_ = -1;
+}
+
+TCPSocket::TCPSocket(int s) : sock_(s) {}
+
+TCPSocket::~TCPSocket() {
+  if (sock_ > 0) {
+    shutdown(sock_, 2);
+    close(sock_);
+  }
+}
+
+void TCPSocket::listen(const char* tag, const address_t& addr) {
+  int success;
+
+  // Make sure we can launch immediately after shutdown by setting the
+  // reuseaddr option so that we don't get address already in use errors
+  int enable = 1;
+  success = setsockopt(sock_, SOL_SOCKET, SO_REUSEADDR, &enable, sizeof(int));
+  if (success < 0) {
+    std::ostringstream msg;
+    msg << tag << " Couldn't enable reuseaddr (error: " << errno << ")";
+    throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+  }
+  success = setsockopt(sock_, SOL_SOCKET, SO_REUSEPORT, &enable, sizeof(int));
+  if (success < 0) {
+    std::ostringstream msg;
+    msg << tag << " Couldn't enable reuseport (error: " << errno << ")";
+    throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+  }
+
+  // Bind the socket to the address and port
+  success = bind(sock_, addr.get(), addr.len);
+  if (success < 0) {
+    std::ostringstream msg;
+    msg << tag << " Couldn't bind socket (error: " << errno << ")";
+    throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+  }
+
+  // Prepare waiting for connections
+  success = ::listen(sock_, 0);
+  if (success < 0) {
+    std::ostringstream msg;
+    msg << tag << " Couldn't listen (error: " << errno << ")";
+    throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+  }
+}
+
+TCPSocket TCPSocket::accept(const char* tag) {
+  int peer = ::accept(sock_, nullptr, nullptr);
+  if (peer < 0) {
+    std::ostringstream msg;
+    msg << tag << " Accept failed (error: " << errno << ")";
+    throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+  }
+
+  return TCPSocket(peer);
+}
+
+void TCPSocket::send(const char* tag, const void* data, size_t len) {
+  while (len > 0) {
+    auto n = ::send(sock_, data, len, 0);
+    if (n <= 0) {
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << tag << " Send failed with errno=" << errno;
+      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+    }
+    len -= n;
+    data = static_cast<const char*>(data) + n;
+  }
+}
+
+void TCPSocket::recv(const char* tag, void* data, size_t len) {
+  while (len > 0) {
+    auto n = ::recv(sock_, data, len, 0);
+    if (n <= 0) {
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << tag << " Recv failed with errno=" << errno;
+      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+    }
+    len -= n;
+    data = static_cast<char*>(data) + n;
+  }
+}
+
+TCPSocket TCPSocket::connect(
+    const char* tag,
+    const address_t& addr,
+    int num_retries,
+    int wait,
+    std::function<void(int, int)> cb) {
+  int sock, success;
+
+  // Attempt to connect `num_retries` times with exponential backoff.
+  for (int attempt = 0; attempt < num_retries; attempt++) {
+    // Create the socket
+    sock = socket(AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
+    if (sock < 0) {
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << tag << " Couldn't create socket to connect (error: " << errno
+          << ")";
+      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+    }
+
+    success = ::connect(sock, addr.get(), addr.len);
+    if (success == 0) {
+      break;
+    }
+
+    cb(attempt, wait);
+    if (wait > 0) {
+      std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(wait));
+    }
+
+    wait <<= 1;
+  }
+
+  if (success < 0) {
+    std::ostringstream msg;
+    msg << tag << " Couldn't connect (error: " << errno << ")";
+    throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+  }
+
+  return TCPSocket(sock);
+}
+
+} // namespace mlx::core::distributed::detail

mlx/distributed/utils.h

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+// Copyright © 2025 Apple Inc.
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <sys/socket.h>
+
+namespace mlx::core::distributed::detail {
+
+struct address_t {
+  sockaddr_storage addr;
+  socklen_t len;
+
+  const sockaddr* get() const {
+    return (struct sockaddr*)&addr;
+  }
+};
+
+/**
+ * Parse a sockaddr from an ip and port provided as strings.
+ */
+address_t parse_address(const std::string& ip, const std::string& port);
+
+/**
+ * Parse a sockaddr provided as an <ip>:<port> string.
+ */
+address_t parse_address(const std::string& ip_port);
+
+/**
+ * Small wrapper over a TCP socket to simplify initiating connections.
+ */
+class TCPSocket {
+ public:
+  TCPSocket(const char* tag);
+  TCPSocket(const TCPSocket&) = delete;
+  TCPSocket& operator=(const TCPSocket&) = delete;
+  TCPSocket(TCPSocket&& s);
+  ~TCPSocket();
+
+  void listen(const char* tag, const address_t& addr);
+  TCPSocket accept(const char* tag);
+
+  void send(const char* tag, const void* data, size_t len);
+  void recv(const char* tag, void* data, size_t len);
+
+  operator int() const {
+    return sock_;
+  }
+
+  static TCPSocket connect(
+      const char* tag,
+      const address_t& addr,
+      int num_retries = 1,
+      int wait = 0,
+      std::function<void(int, int)> cb = nullptr);
+
+ private:
+  TCPSocket(int sock);
+
+  int sock_;
+};
+
+} // namespace mlx::core::distributed::detail