A method for interaction by a central processing unit (CPU) and peripheral devices in a computer includes allocating, in a memory, a work queue for controlling a first peripheral device of the computer. The CPU prepares a work request for insertion in the allocated work queue, the work request specifying an operation for execution by the first peripheral device. A second peripheral device of the computer submits an instruction to the first peripheral device to execute the work request that was prepared by the CPU and thereby to perform the operation specified by the work request.