Abbreviated as HCA,
Host Channel Adapter is a
network fabric interconnect based on
InfiniBand technology (which provides the
specification for the transmission of data between
processors and
I/O devices).
It provides a computer with
port connection to other InfiniBand devices. That
port can be connected to another HCA, a target device, or an InfiniBand switch
fabric that redirects the data coming in on one of its ports out to a device
attached to another of its ports.