A method includes generating, by a first software process of the data processing system, a source partition descriptor for a DMA job which requires access to a first partition of a memory which is assigned to a second software process of the data processing system and not assigned to the first software process. The source partition descriptor comprises a partition identifier which identifies the first partition of the memory. The DMA unit receives the source partition descriptor and generates a destination partition descriptor for the DMA job. Generating the destination partition descriptor includes translating, by the DMA unit, the partition identifier to a buffer pool identifier which identifies a physical address within the first partition of the memory which is assigned to the second software process; and storing, by the DMA unit, the buffer pool identifier in the destination partition descriptor.