CP shared-KV HiCache transfers are per-layer, so the host layout should match the access pattern instead of forcing page-major strides through every layer. This adds a direct-only layer_page_first layout, routes per-layer KV and NSA index backup/load through the TAI LF<->LPF direct kernels, and keeps storage/page-buffer metadata paths fail-fast until their page-level contract is redesigned.\n\nThe direct controller keeps host indices in caller order for both page_first_direct and layer_page_first because the TAI direct path requires CPU index descriptors and owns descriptor coalescing. All-layer backup intentionally loops over per-layer direct kernels rather than using the sgl-kernel all-layer direct ABI.\n\nConstraint: layer_page_first is currently host-only CP HiCache; storage backends assume page-major contiguous page metadata.\nConstraint: TAI LPF direct kernels require CPU int64 page indices and complete page spans.\nRejected: silently fallback to SM copy when TAI LPF kernels are missing | that hides production performance regressions.\nRejected: support storage page metadata in this commit | LPF requires a layer-page-level storage contract, not a one-pointer-per-page contract.\nConfidence: medium\nScope-risk: moderate\nDirective: Do not enable storage or kernel backend for layer_page_first without redesigning page-buffer metadata and adding remote ETE coverage.\nTested: local py_compile for touched runtime files.\nTested: remote py_compile in g0034 container for touched runtime files.\nTested: remote targeted pytest: 5 passed for parser/storage/layout/move_indices smoke coverage.\nNot-tested: full CP HiCache ETE with --hicache-mem-layout layer_page_first after this commit step.\nNot-tested: combined CUDA roundtrip tests in one pytest process; previous independent runs passed but combined run exposed a host-memory registration lifecycle issue.
24da983ff5