* @return best available RDMA provider, or null if none available
     */
    public static RdmaProvider createProvider(String preference) {
        if ("auto".equalsIgnoreCase(preference)) {
            return selectBestProvider();
        }

        switch (preference.toLowerCase()) {
        case "disni":
            RdmaProvider disniProvider = new DisniRdmaProvider();
            if (disniProvider.isAvailable()) {

    @Test
    public void testRdmaProviderSelectionAlwaysReturnsProvider() {
        // This should always return at least the TCP fallback provider
        RdmaProvider provider = RdmaProviderFactory.selectBestProvider();
        assertNotNull(provider, "Should always select an RDMA provider (at minimum TCP fallback)");
        assertNotNull(provider.getProviderName(), "Provider name should not be null");