diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index 559b0f4c67..492d8044c1 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ jobs:
             LOW_MEMORY=1 DEVICE=cpu python -m xmlrunner discover -v python/tests -o test-results/cpu
             LOW_MEMORY=1 DEVICE=gpu METAL_DEVICE_WRAPPER_TYPE=1 METAL_DEBUG_ERROR_MODE=0 python -m xmlrunner discover -v python/tests -o test-results/gpu
             mpirun --bind-to none -host localhost:8 -np 8 -x DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/homebrew/lib/ python python/tests/mpi_test_distributed.py
+            /bin/bash python/tests/run_ring_test.sh
       - run:
           name: Build example extension
           command: |
diff --git a/mlx/distributed/CMakeLists.txt b/mlx/distributed/CMakeLists.txt
index 8fd081b844..8e16bd40dd 100644
--- a/mlx/distributed/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/mlx/distributed/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -5,3 +5,4 @@ target_sources(
           ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/distributed.cpp)
 
 add_subdirectory(${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/mpi)
+add_subdirectory(${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/ring)
diff --git a/mlx/distributed/distributed.cpp b/mlx/distributed/distributed.cpp
index 34d9583fa8..cb6edd1e80 100644
--- a/mlx/distributed/distributed.cpp
+++ b/mlx/distributed/distributed.cpp
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 // Copyright © 2024 Apple Inc.
 
+#include <unordered_map>
+
 #include "mlx/distributed/distributed.h"
 #include "mlx/distributed/distributed_impl.h"
 #include "mlx/distributed/mpi/mpi.h"
+#include "mlx/distributed/ring/ring.h"
 #include "mlx/scheduler.h"
 
 namespace mlx::core::distributed {
@@ -65,7 +68,7 @@ class EmptyGroup : public GroupImpl {
 } // namespace detail
 
 bool is_available() {
-  return mpi::is_available();
+  return mpi::is_available() || ring::is_available();
 }
 
 int Group::rank() const {
@@ -80,20 +83,50 @@ Group Group::split(int color, int key /* = -1 */) const {
   return Group(group_->split(color, key));
 }
 
-Group init(bool strict /* = false */) {
-  auto init_group = [strict]() {
-    auto default_group = mpi::init(strict);
-    if (default_group == nullptr) {
-      default_group = std::make_shared<detail::EmptyGroup>();
+Group init(bool strict /* = false */, const std::string& bk /* = "any" */) {
+  static std::unordered_map<std::string, std::shared_ptr<detail::GroupImpl>>
+      backends;
+
+  // Already initialized so return the group.
+  if (auto g = backends.find(bk); g != backends.end()) {
+    return Group(g->second);
+  }
+
+  // Create the requested communication group
+  std::shared_ptr<detail::GroupImpl> group;
+  std::string bk_ = bk;
+  if (bk == "mpi") {
+    group = mpi::init(strict);
+  } else if (bk == "ring") {
+    group = ring::init(strict);
+  } else if (bk == "any") {
+    group = ring::init(false);
+    bk_ = "ring";
+    if (group == nullptr) {
+      group = mpi::init(false);
+      bk_ = "mpi";
     }
-    return default_group;
-  };
-  static std::shared_ptr<detail::GroupImpl> default_group = init_group();
+    if (group == nullptr && strict) {
+      throw std::runtime_error("[distributed] Couldn't initialize any backend");
+    }
+  } else {
+    std::ostringstream msg;
+    msg << "[distributed] The only valid values for backend are 'any', 'mpi' "
+        << "and 'ring' but '" << bk << "' was provided.";
+    throw std::invalid_argument(msg.str());
+  }
+
+  if (group == nullptr) {
+    group = std::make_shared<detail::EmptyGroup>();
+  } else {
+    backends.insert({"any", group});
+  }
+  backends.insert({std::move(bk_), group});
 
   // Ensure the communication stream is alive before
   // the graph is evaluated
   detail::communication_stream();
-  return Group(default_group);
+  return Group(group);
 }
 
 } // namespace mlx::core::distributed
diff --git a/mlx/distributed/distributed.h b/mlx/distributed/distributed.h
index c06d10756c..1f1713866e 100644
--- a/mlx/distributed/distributed.h
+++ b/mlx/distributed/distributed.h
@@ -53,6 +53,6 @@ struct Group {
  * distributed subsystem. Otherwise simply return a singleton group which will
  * render communication operations as no-op.
  */
-Group init(bool strict = false);
+Group init(bool strict = false, const std::string& bk = "any");
 
 } // namespace mlx::core::distributed
diff --git a/mlx/distributed/distributed_impl.h b/mlx/distributed/distributed_impl.h
index fdcbf777dd..bf5fc13b5d 100644
--- a/mlx/distributed/distributed_impl.h
+++ b/mlx/distributed/distributed_impl.h
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ namespace mlx::core::distributed::detail {
  */
 class GroupImpl {
  public:
+  virtual ~GroupImpl() {}
+
   virtual int rank() = 0;
   virtual int size() = 0;
   virtual std::shared_ptr<GroupImpl> split(int color, int key = -1) = 0;
diff --git a/mlx/distributed/ring/CMakeLists.txt b/mlx/distributed/ring/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e94ca11426
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mlx/distributed/ring/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+if(MLX_BUILD_CPU)
+  target_sources(mlx PRIVATE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/ring.cpp)
+else()
+  target_sources(mlx PRIVATE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/no_ring.cpp)
+endif()
diff --git a/mlx/distributed/ring/no_ring.cpp b/mlx/distributed/ring/no_ring.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0c31d28392
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mlx/distributed/ring/no_ring.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+// Copyright © 2024 Apple Inc.
+
+#include "mlx/distributed/ring/ring.h"
+
+namespace mlx::core::distributed::ring {
+
+using GroupImpl = mlx::core::distributed::detail::GroupImpl;
+
+bool is_available() {
+  return false;
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<GroupImpl> init(bool strict /* = false */) {
+  if (strict) {
+    throw std::runtime_error("Cannot initialize ring distributed backend.");
+  }
+  return nullptr;
+}
+
+} // namespace mlx::core::distributed::ring
diff --git a/mlx/distributed/ring/ring.cpp b/mlx/distributed/ring/ring.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c30de91a2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mlx/distributed/ring/ring.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,827 @@
+// Copyright © 2024 Apple Inc.
+
+#include <arpa/inet.h>
+#include <netdb.h>
+#include <sys/socket.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+#include <chrono>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <sstream>
+#include <thread>
+
+#include <json.hpp>
+
+#include "mlx/backend/common/copy.h"
+#include "mlx/distributed/distributed.h"
+#include "mlx/distributed/distributed_impl.h"
+#include "mlx/threadpool.h"
+
+#define SWITCH_TYPE(x, ...)  \
+  switch ((x).dtype()) {     \
+    case bool_: {            \
+      using T = bool;        \
+      __VA_ARGS__;           \
+    } break;                 \
+    case int8: {             \
+      using T = int8_t;      \
+      __VA_ARGS__;           \
+    } break;                 \
+    case int16: {            \
+      using T = int16_t;     \
+      __VA_ARGS__;           \
+    } break;                 \
+    case int32: {            \
+      using T = int32_t;     \
+      __VA_ARGS__;           \
+    } break;                 \
+    case int64: {            \
+      using T = int64_t;     \
+      __VA_ARGS__;           \
+    } break;                 \
+    case uint8: {            \
+      using T = uint8_t;     \
+      __VA_ARGS__;           \
+    } break;                 \
+    case uint16: {           \
+      using T = uint16_t;    \
+      __VA_ARGS__;           \
+    } break;                 \
+    case uint32: {           \
+      using T = uint32_t;    \
+      __VA_ARGS__;           \
+    } break;                 \
+    case uint64: {           \
+      using T = uint64_t;    \
+      __VA_ARGS__;           \
+    } break;                 \
+    case bfloat16: {         \
+      using T = bfloat16_t;  \
+      __VA_ARGS__;           \
+    } break;                 \
+    case float16: {          \
+      using T = float16_t;   \
+      __VA_ARGS__;           \
+    } break;                 \
+    case float32: {          \
+      using T = float;       \
+      __VA_ARGS__;           \
+    } break;                 \
+    case complex64: {        \
+      using T = complex64_t; \
+      __VA_ARGS__;           \
+    } break;                 \
+  }
+
+namespace mlx::core::distributed::ring {
+
+constexpr const size_t PACKET_SIZE = 262144;
+constexpr const int CONN_ATTEMPTS = 5;
+constexpr const int CONN_WAIT = 1000;
+
+using GroupImpl = mlx::core::distributed::detail::GroupImpl;
+using json = nlohmann::json;
+
+namespace {
+
+class Barrier {
+ public:
+  explicit Barrier(int n_threads)
+      : n_threads_(n_threads), count_(0), flag_(false) {}
+
+  void arrive_and_wait() {
+    std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(mtx_);
+
+    // Keep the flag that marks the current use of the barrier. The next use is
+    // going to have this flag flipped.
+    bool initial_flag = flag_;
+
+    // Increment the count
+    count_++;
+
+    // We are the last thread to arrive so reset the count, change the flag and
+    // notify everybody.
+    if (count_ == n_threads_) {
+      count_ = 0;
+      flag_ = !flag_;
+      cv_.notify_all();
+    }
+
+    // Wait for the rest to arrive
+    else {
+      cv_.wait(lock, [this, initial_flag]() { return initial_flag != flag_; });
+    }
+  }
+
+ private:
+  std::mutex mtx_;
+  std::condition_variable cv_;
+  int n_threads_;
+
+  int count_;
+  bool flag_; // we need this for sequential use of the barrier
+};
+
+template <typename T>
+void log(std::ostream& os, T first) {
+  os << first << std::endl;
+}
+
+template <typename T, typename... Args>
+void log(std::ostream& os, T first, Args... args) {
+  log(os << first << " ", args...);
+}
+
+template <typename... Args>
+void log_info(bool verbose, Args... args) {
+  if (!verbose) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  log(std::cerr, "[ring]", args...);
+}
+
+template <typename T, typename U>
+decltype(T() * U()) ceildiv(T a, U b) {
+  return (a + b - 1) / b;
+}
+
+struct address_t {
+  sockaddr_storage addr;
+  socklen_t len;
+
+  const sockaddr* get() const {
+    return (struct sockaddr*)&addr;
+  }
+};
+
+/**
+ * Parse a sockaddr from an ip and port provided as strings.
+ */
+address_t parse_address(const std::string& ip, const std::string& port) {
+  struct addrinfo hints, *res;
+  memset(&hints, 0, sizeof(hints));
+  hints.ai_family = AF_UNSPEC;
+  hints.ai_socktype = SOCK_STREAM;
+
+  int status = getaddrinfo(ip.c_str(), port.c_str(), &hints, &res);
+  if (status != 0) {
+    std::ostringstream msg;
+    msg << "Can't parse address " << ip << ":" << port;
+    throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+  }
+
+  address_t result;
+  memcpy(&result.addr, res->ai_addr, res->ai_addrlen);
+  result.len = res->ai_addrlen;
+  freeaddrinfo(res);
+
+  return result;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Parse a sockaddr provided as an <ip>:<port> string.
+ */
+address_t parse_address(const std::string& ip_port) {
+  auto colon = ip_port.find(":");
+  if (colon == std::string::npos) {
+    std::ostringstream msg;
+    msg << "Can't parse address " << ip_port;
+    throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+  }
+  std::string ip(ip_port.begin(), ip_port.begin() + colon);
+  std::string port(ip_port.begin() + colon + 1, ip_port.end());
+
+  return parse_address(ip, port);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Load all addresses from the json hostfile. The hostfile is a list of
+ * addresses in order of rank. For each rank there can be many addresses so
+ * that we can have multiple connections between peers.
+ *
+ * For example:
+ *  [
+ *    ["ip1:5000", "ip1:5001"],
+ *    ["ip2:5000", "ip2:5001"],
+ *    ["ip3:5000", "ip3:5001"],
+ *  ]
+ */
+std::vector<std::vector<address_t>> load_nodes(const char* hostfile) {
+  std::vector<std::vector<address_t>> nodes;
+  std::ifstream f(hostfile);
+
+  json hosts = json::parse(f);
+  for (auto& h : hosts) {
+    std::vector<address_t> host;
+    for (auto& ips : h) {
+      host.push_back(std::move(parse_address(ips.get<std::string>())));
+    }
+    nodes.push_back(std::move(host));
+  }
+
+  return nodes;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Create a socket and accept one connection for each of the provided
+ * addresses.
+ */
+std::vector<int> accept_connections(const std::vector<address_t>& addresses) {
+  std::vector<int> sockets;
+  int success;
+
+  for (auto& address : addresses) {
+    // Create the socket to wait for connections from the peers
+    int sock = socket(AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
+    if (sock < 0) {
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << "[ring] Couldn't create socket (error: " << errno << ")";
+      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+    }
+
+    // Make sure we can launch immediately after shutdown by setting the
+    // reuseaddr option so that we don't get address already in use errors
+    int enable = 1;
+    success = setsockopt(sock, SOL_SOCKET, SO_REUSEADDR, &enable, sizeof(int));
+    if (success < 0) {
+      shutdown(sock, 2);
+      close(sock);
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << "[ring] Couldn't enable reuseaddr (error: " << errno << ")";
+      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+    }
+    success = setsockopt(sock, SOL_SOCKET, SO_REUSEPORT, &enable, sizeof(int));
+    if (success < 0) {
+      shutdown(sock, 2);
+      close(sock);
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << "[ring] Couldn't enable reuseport (error: " << errno << ")";
+      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+    }
+
+    // Bind the socket to the address and port
+    success = bind(sock, address.get(), address.len);
+    if (success < 0) {
+      shutdown(sock, 2);
+      close(sock);
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << "[ring] Couldn't bind socket (error: " << errno << ")";
+      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+    }
+
+    // Wait for connections
+    success = listen(sock, 0);
+    if (success < 0) {
+      shutdown(sock, 2);
+      close(sock);
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << "[ring] Couldn't listen (error: " << errno << ")";
+      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+    }
+
+    int peer_socket = accept(sock, nullptr, nullptr);
+    if (peer_socket < 0) {
+      shutdown(sock, 2);
+      close(sock);
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << "[ring] Accept failed (error: " << errno << ")";
+      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+    }
+
+    // Close the listening socket
+    shutdown(sock, 2);
+    close(sock);
+
+    sockets.push_back(peer_socket);
+  }
+
+  return sockets;
+}
+
+/**
+ * The counterpoint of `accept_connections`. Basically connect to each of the
+ * provided addresses.
+ */
+std::vector<int> make_connections(
+    const std::vector<address_t>& addresses,
+    bool verbose) {
+  std::vector<int> sockets;
+  int success;
+
+  for (auto& address : addresses) {
+    int sock;
+
+    // Attempt to connect to the peer CONN_ATTEMPTS times with exponential
+    // backoff. TODO: Do we need that?
+    for (int attempt = 0; attempt < CONN_ATTEMPTS; attempt++) {
+      // Create the socket
+      sock = socket(AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
+      if (sock < 0) {
+        std::ostringstream msg;
+        msg << "[ring] Couldn't create socket (error: " << errno << ")";
+        throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+      }
+
+      if (attempt > 0) {
+        int wait = (1 << (attempt - 1)) * CONN_WAIT;
+        log_info(
+            verbose,
+            "Attempt",
+            attempt,
+            "wait",
+            wait,
+            "ms (error:",
+            errno,
+            ")");
+        std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(wait));
+      }
+
+      success = connect(sock, address.get(), address.len);
+      if (success == 0) {
+        break;
+      }
+    }
+    if (success < 0) {
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << "[ring] Couldn't connect (error: " << errno << ")";
+      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+    }
+
+    sockets.push_back(sock);
+  }
+
+  return sockets;
+}
+
+array ensure_row_contiguous(const array& arr) {
+  if (arr.flags().row_contiguous) {
+    return arr;
+  } else {
+    array arr_copy(arr.shape(), arr.dtype(), nullptr, {});
+    copy(arr, arr_copy, CopyType::General);
+    return arr_copy;
+  }
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+void sum_inplace(const T* input, T* output, size_t N) {
+  while (N-- > 0) {
+    *output += *input;
+    input++;
+    output++;
+  }
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+void _send(int sock, T* data, size_t start, size_t stop) {
+  if (stop <= start) {
+    return;
+  }
+  data += start;
+  size_t len = (stop - start) * sizeof(T);
+  const char* buffer = (const char*)data;
+  while (len > 0) {
+    ssize_t r = send(sock, buffer, len, 0);
+    if (r <= 0) {
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << "Send of " << len << " bytes failed (errno: " << errno << ")";
+      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+    }
+    buffer += r;
+    len -= r;
+  }
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+void _recv(int sock, T* data, size_t start, size_t stop) {
+  if (stop <= start) {
+    return;
+  }
+  data += start;
+  size_t len = (stop - start) * sizeof(T);
+  char* buffer = (char*)data;
+  while (len > 0) {
+    ssize_t r = recv(sock, buffer, len, 0);
+    if (r <= 0) {
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << "Recv of " << len << " bytes failed (errno: " << errno << ")";
+      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+    }
+    buffer += r;
+    len -= r;
+  }
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+void _recv_sum(int sock, T* data, size_t start, size_t stop) {
+  if (stop <= start) {
+    return;
+  }
+  data += start;
+  char buffer[PACKET_SIZE];
+  size_t len = (stop - start) * sizeof(T);
+  while (len > 0) {
+    ssize_t r = 0;
+    do {
+      ssize_t partial_r =
+          recv(sock, buffer + r, std::min(len, PACKET_SIZE) - r, 0);
+      if (partial_r <= 0) {
+        std::ostringstream msg;
+        msg << "Recv of " << len << " bytes failed (errno: " << errno << ")";
+        throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+      }
+      r += partial_r;
+    } while (r % sizeof(T));
+    sum_inplace((const T*)buffer, data, r / sizeof(T));
+    data += r / sizeof(T);
+    len -= r;
+  }
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+void ring_send(
+    Barrier& barrier,
+    int socket,
+    int rank,
+    int size,
+    T* data,
+    size_t data_size,
+    int direction = -1) {
+  // We split the data into `size_` segments of size `segment_size`
+  size_t segment_size = ceildiv(data_size, size);
+
+  // Initial segment
+  int segment = rank;
+
+  // 1st send
+  for (int i = 0; i < size - 1; i++) {
+    size_t start = segment * segment_size;
+    size_t stop = std::min((segment + 1) * segment_size, data_size);
+    _send<T>(socket, data, start, stop);
+    barrier.arrive_and_wait();
+    segment = (segment + size + direction) % size;
+  }
+
+  // 2nd send
+  for (int i = 0; i < size - 1; i++) {
+    size_t start = segment * segment_size;
+    size_t stop = std::min((segment + 1) * segment_size, data_size);
+    _send<T>(socket, data, start, stop);
+    barrier.arrive_and_wait();
+    segment = (segment + size + direction) % size;
+  }
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+void ring_recv_sum(
+    Barrier& barrier,
+    int socket,
+    int rank,
+    int size,
+    T* data,
+    size_t data_size,
+    int direction = -1) {
+  // We split the data into `size_` segments of size `segment_size`
+  size_t segment_size = ceildiv(data_size, size);
+
+  // Initial segment
+  int segment = (rank + size + direction) % size;
+
+  // Recv sum
+  for (int i = 0; i < size - 1; i++) {
+    size_t start = segment * segment_size;
+    size_t stop = std::min((segment + 1) * segment_size, data_size);
+    _recv_sum<T>(socket, data, start, stop);
+    barrier.arrive_and_wait();
+    segment = (segment + size + direction) % size;
+  }
+
+  // Recv
+  for (int i = 0; i < size - 1; i++) {
+    size_t start = segment * segment_size;
+    size_t stop = std::min((segment + 1) * segment_size, data_size);
+    _recv<T>(socket, data, start, stop);
+    barrier.arrive_and_wait();
+    segment = (segment + size + direction) % size;
+  }
+}
+
+} // namespace
+
+class RingGroup : public GroupImpl {
+ public:
+  RingGroup(int rank, std::vector<std::vector<address_t>> nodes, bool verbose)
+      : rank_(rank), verbose_(verbose), pool_(0) {
+    if (rank_ > 0 && rank_ >= nodes.size()) {
+      throw std::runtime_error(
+          "[ring] Rank cannot be larger than the size of the group");
+    }
+
+    size_ = nodes.size();
+    int connect_to = (rank_ + 1) % size_;
+
+    // We define the connection order by having the rank_ == size_ - 1 connect
+    // first and accept after.
+    if (rank_ < connect_to) {
+      log_info(verbose_, "Rank", rank_, "accepting");
+      recv_sockets_ = std::move(accept_connections(nodes[rank_]));
+      log_info(verbose_, "Rank", rank_, "connecting to", connect_to);
+      send_sockets_ = std::move(make_connections(nodes[connect_to], verbose));
+    } else {
+      log_info(verbose_, "Rank", rank_, "connecting to", connect_to);
+      send_sockets_ = std::move(make_connections(nodes[connect_to], verbose));
+      log_info(verbose_, "Rank", rank_, "accepting");
+      recv_sockets_ = std::move(accept_connections(nodes[rank_]));
+    }
+
+    // Failure if we couldn't make send or recv sockets
+    if (send_sockets_.empty()) {
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << "[ring] Rank " << rank_ << " has no send sockets.";
+      throw std::invalid_argument(msg.str());
+    }
+    if (recv_sockets_.empty()) {
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << "[ring] Rank " << rank_ << " has no recv sockets.";
+      throw std::invalid_argument(msg.str());
+    }
+
+    // The following could be relaxed since we can define non-homogeneous rings
+    // but it makes things a bit simpler for now.
+    if (send_sockets_.size() != recv_sockets_.size()) {
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << "[ring] It is required to have as many connections to the left as "
+          << "to the right but rank " << rank_ << " has "
+          << send_sockets_.size() << " connections to the right and "
+          << recv_sockets_.size() << " to the left.";
+      throw std::invalid_argument(msg.str());
+    }
+
+    // Start the necessary threads for completely parallel operation on all
+    // channels. One thread to send, one to receive per socket.
+    pool_.resize(send_sockets_.size() * 2 * 2);
+  }
+
+  ~RingGroup() {
+    for (auto s : send_sockets_) {
+      shutdown(s, 2);
+      close(s);
+    }
+    for (auto s : recv_sockets_) {
+      shutdown(s, 2);
+      close(s);
+    }
+  }
+
+  int rank() override {
+    return rank_;
+  }
+
+  int size() override {
+    return size_;
+  }
+
+  void all_sum(const array& input_, array& output) override {
+    SWITCH_TYPE(output, all_sum<T>(input_, output));
+  }
+
+  std::shared_ptr<GroupImpl> split(int color, int key = -1) override {
+    throw std::runtime_error("[ring] Group split not supported.");
+  }
+  void all_gather(const array& input, array& output) override {
+    throw std::runtime_error("[ring] All gather not supported.");
+  }
+  void send(const array& input, int dst) override {
+    throw std::runtime_error("[ring] Send not supported.");
+  }
+  void recv(array& out, int src) override {
+    throw std::runtime_error("[ring] Recv not supported.");
+  }
+
+ private:
+  template <typename T>
+  void all_sum(const array& input_, array& output) {
+    // Make sure that the input is row contiguous
+    array input = ensure_row_contiguous(input_);
+
+    // If the input data cannot be split into size_ segments then copy it and
+    // all reduce a local buffer prefilled with 0s.
+    if (input.size() < size_) {
+      // TODO: Maybe allocate dynamically so we don't have the constraint below?
+      if (input.itemsize() * size_ > 1024) {
+        std::ostringstream msg;
+        msg << "Can't perform the ring all reduce of " << output.size()
+            << " elements with a ring of size " << size_;
+        throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+      }
+
+      std::future<void> sent, recvd;
+      auto barrier = std::make_unique<Barrier>(2);
+      char buffer[1024];
+      std::memset(buffer, 0, size_ * input.itemsize());
+      std::memcpy(buffer, input.data<char>(), input.nbytes());
+      sent = pool_.enqueue(
+          ring_send<T>,
+          std::reference_wrapper(*barrier),
+          send_sockets_[0],
+          rank_,
+          size_,
+          (T*)buffer,
+          size_,
+          -1);
+      recvd = pool_.enqueue(
+          ring_recv_sum<T>,
+          std::reference_wrapper(*barrier),
+          recv_sockets_[0],
+          rank_,
+          size_,
+          (T*)buffer,
+          size_,
+          -1);
+      sent.wait();
+      recvd.wait();
+      std::memcpy(output.data<char>(), buffer, output.nbytes());
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // If not inplace all reduce then copy the input to the output first
+    if (input.data<void>() != output.data<void>()) {
+      std::memcpy(output.data<char>(), input.data<char>(), input.nbytes());
+    }
+
+    // All reduce in place. We have `send_channels_.size()` bidirectional
+    // channels so let's split the message up and perform as many parallel
+    // ring-reductions as possible.
+    std::vector<std::future<void>> reductions;
+    std::vector<std::unique_ptr<Barrier>> barriers;
+    size_t packets = ceildiv(output.size(), size_ * PACKET_SIZE);
+
+    // Large all reduce territory so let's use all we got
+    if (packets >= 2 * send_sockets_.size()) {
+      size_t segment = ceildiv(output.size(), 2 * send_sockets_.size());
+      for (int i = 0; i < send_sockets_.size(); i++) {
+        // 1st ring reduce
+        barriers.emplace_back(std::make_unique<Barrier>(2));
+        reductions.push_back(pool_.enqueue(
+            ring_send<T>,
+            std::reference_wrapper(*barriers.back()),
+            send_sockets_[i],
+            rank_,
+            size_,
+            output.data<T>() + 2 * i * segment,
+            std::min(output.size() - 2 * i * segment, segment),
+            -1));
+        reductions.push_back(pool_.enqueue(
+            ring_recv_sum<T>,
+            std::reference_wrapper(*barriers.back()),
+            recv_sockets_[i],
+            rank_,
+            size_,
+            output.data<T>() + 2 * i * segment,
+            std::min(output.size() - 2 * i * segment, segment),
+            -1));
+
+        // 2nd ring reduce
+        barriers.emplace_back(std::make_unique<Barrier>(2));
+        reductions.push_back(pool_.enqueue(
+            ring_send<T>,
+            std::reference_wrapper(*barriers.back()),
+            recv_sockets_[i],
+            rank_,
+            size_,
+            output.data<T>() + (2 * i + 1) * segment,
+            std::min(output.size() - (2 * i + 1) * segment, segment),
+            1));
+        reductions.push_back(pool_.enqueue(
+            ring_recv_sum<T>,
+            std::reference_wrapper(*barriers.back()),
+            send_sockets_[i],
+            rank_,
+            size_,
+            output.data<T>() + (2 * i + 1) * segment,
+            std::min(output.size() - (2 * i + 1) * segment, segment),
+            1));
+      }
+    }
+
+    // At least 2 reductions so we can be from small to medium
+    else if (packets > 1) {
+      size_t segment = ceildiv(output.size(), packets);
+      for (int i = 0; i < send_sockets_.size(); i++) {
+        barriers.emplace_back(std::make_unique<Barrier>(2));
+        reductions.push_back(pool_.enqueue(
+            ring_send<T>,
+            std::reference_wrapper(*barriers.back()),
+            send_sockets_[i],
+            rank_,
+            size_,
+            output.data<T>() + i * segment,
+            std::min(output.size() - i * segment, segment),
+            -1));
+        reductions.push_back(pool_.enqueue(
+            ring_recv_sum<T>,
+            std::reference_wrapper(*barriers.back()),
+            recv_sockets_[i],
+            rank_,
+            size_,
+            output.data<T>() + i * segment,
+            std::min(output.size() - i * segment, segment),
+            -1));
+      }
+      for (int i = 0; i < packets - send_sockets_.size(); i++) {
+        barriers.emplace_back(std::make_unique<Barrier>(2));
+        reductions.push_back(pool_.enqueue(
+            ring_send<T>,
+            std::reference_wrapper(*barriers.back()),
+            recv_sockets_[i],
+            rank_,
+            size_,
+            output.data<T>() + (send_sockets_.size() + i) * segment,
+            std::min(
+                output.size() - (send_sockets_.size() + i) * segment, segment),
+            1));
+        reductions.push_back(pool_.enqueue(
+            ring_recv_sum<T>,
+            std::reference_wrapper(*barriers.back()),
+            send_sockets_[i],
+            rank_,
+            size_,
+            output.data<T>() + (send_sockets_.size() + i) * segment,
+            std::min(
+                output.size() - (send_sockets_.size() + i) * segment, segment),
+            1));
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Small reduction which won't really benefit much from parallelization.
+    // TODO: Verify that this is true cause PACKET_SIZE * size_ can still be a
+    //       fairly large array.
+    else {
+      barriers.emplace_back(std::make_unique<Barrier>(2));
+      reductions.push_back(pool_.enqueue(
+          ring_send<T>,
+          std::reference_wrapper(*barriers.back()),
+          send_sockets_[0],
+          rank_,
+          size_,
+          output.data<T>(),
+          output.size(),
+          -1));
+      reductions.push_back(pool_.enqueue(
+          ring_recv_sum<T>,
+          std::reference_wrapper(*barriers.back()),
+          recv_sockets_[0],
+          rank_,
+          size_,
+          output.data<T>(),
+          output.size(),
+          -1));
+    }
+
+    // Wait for the reductions to finish.
+    for (auto& f : reductions) {
+      f.wait();
+    }
+  }
+
+  int rank_;
+  int size_;
+
+  bool verbose_;
+
+  ThreadPool pool_;
+
+  std::vector<int> send_sockets_;
+  std::vector<int> recv_sockets_;
+};
+
+bool is_available() {
+  return true;
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<GroupImpl> init(bool strict /* = false */) {
+  const char* hostfile = std::getenv("MLX_HOSTFILE");
+  const char* rank_str = std::getenv("MLX_RANK");
+  const char* ring_verbose = std::getenv("MLX_RING_VERBOSE");
+
+  if (!hostfile || !rank_str) {
+    if (strict) {
+      std::ostringstream msg;
+      msg << "[ring] You need to provide via environment variables both a rank (MLX_RANK) "
+          << "and a hostfile (MLX_HOSTFILE) but provided MLX_RANK=\""
+          << ((rank_str) ? rank_str : "") << "\" and MLX_HOSTFILE=\""
+          << ((hostfile) ? hostfile : "") << "\"";
+      throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+    }
+    return nullptr;
+  }
+
+  auto nodes = load_nodes(hostfile);
+  int rank = std::atoi(rank_str);
+
+  return std::make_shared<RingGroup>(rank, nodes, ring_verbose != nullptr);
+}
+
+} // namespace mlx::core::distributed::ring
diff --git a/mlx/distributed/ring/ring.h b/mlx/distributed/ring/ring.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e0b3fd093c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mlx/distributed/ring/ring.h
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+// Copyright © 2024 Apple Inc.
+
+#include "mlx/distributed/distributed.h"
+
+namespace mlx::core::distributed::ring {
+
+using GroupImpl = mlx::core::distributed::detail::GroupImpl;
+
+bool is_available();
+std::shared_ptr<GroupImpl> init(bool strict = false);
+
+} // namespace mlx::core::distributed::ring
diff --git a/mlx/io/load.h b/mlx/io/load.h
index 4160d66939..138098e826 100644
--- a/mlx/io/load.h
+++ b/mlx/io/load.h
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 #include <unistd.h>
 #endif
 
-#include "mlx/io/threadpool.h"
+#include "mlx/threadpool.h"
 
 // Strictly we need to operate on files in binary mode (to avoid \r getting
 // automatically inserted), but every modern system except for Windows no
diff --git a/mlx/ops.cpp b/mlx/ops.cpp
index 9dda4f228c..311ad830fe 100644
--- a/mlx/ops.cpp
+++ b/mlx/ops.cpp
@@ -652,7 +652,7 @@ void normalize_dynamic_slice_inputs(
     const array& a,
     const array& start,
     std::vector<int>& axes,
-    const std::string prefix) {
+    std::string_view prefix) {
   if (start.size() > a.ndim()) {
     std::ostringstream msg;
     msg << prefix << " Invalid number of starting positions for "
@@ -690,7 +690,9 @@ void normalize_dynamic_slice_inputs(
   }
   std::set dims(axes.begin(), axes.end());
   if (dims.size() != axes.size()) {
-    throw std::invalid_argument(prefix + " Repeat axes not allowed.");
+    std::ostringstream msg;
+    msg << prefix << " Repeat axes not allowed.";
+    throw std::invalid_argument(msg.str());
   }
 }
 
@@ -927,7 +929,7 @@ split(const array& a, int num_splits, StreamOrDevice s /* = {} */) {
 std::vector<array> meshgrid(
     const std::vector<array>& arrays,
     bool sparse /* = false */,
-    std::string indexing /* = "xy" */,
+    const std::string& indexing /* = "xy" */,
     StreamOrDevice s /* = {} */) {
   if (indexing != "xy" && indexing != "ij") {
     throw std::invalid_argument(
@@ -1186,7 +1188,7 @@ array pad(
     const Shape& low_pad_size,
     const Shape& high_pad_size,
     const array& pad_value /*= array(0)*/,
-    const std::string mode /*= "constant"*/,
+    const std::string& mode /*= "constant"*/,
     StreamOrDevice s /* = {}*/) {
   if (axes.size() != low_pad_size.size() ||
       axes.size() != high_pad_size.size()) {
@@ -1238,7 +1240,7 @@ array pad(
     const array& a,
     const std::vector<std::pair<int, int>>& pad_width,
     const array& pad_value /*= array(0)*/,
-    const std::string mode /*= "constant"*/,
+    const std::string& mode /*= "constant"*/,
     StreamOrDevice s /*= {}*/) {
   std::vector<int> axes(a.ndim(), 0);
   std::iota(axes.begin(), axes.end(), 0);
@@ -1258,7 +1260,7 @@ array pad(
     const array& a,
     const std::pair<int, int>& pad_width,
     const array& pad_value /*= array(0)*/,
-    const std::string mode /*= "constant"*/,
+    const std::string& mode /*= "constant"*/,
     StreamOrDevice s /*= {}*/) {
   return pad(
       a,
@@ -1272,7 +1274,7 @@ array pad(
     const array& a,
     int pad_width,
     const array& pad_value /*= array(0)*/,
-    const std::string mode /*= "constant"*/,
+    const std::string& mode /*= "constant"*/,
     StreamOrDevice s /*= {}*/) {
   return pad(
       a,
diff --git a/mlx/ops.h b/mlx/ops.h
index 26bff5ec8b..141cfde709 100644
--- a/mlx/ops.h
+++ b/mlx/ops.h
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ split(const array& a, const Shape& indices, StreamOrDevice s = {});
 std::vector<array> meshgrid(
     const std::vector<array>& arrays,
     bool sparse = false,
-    std::string indexing = "xy",
+    const std::string& indexing = "xy",
     StreamOrDevice s = {});
 
 /**
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ array pad(
     const Shape& low_pad_size,
     const Shape& high_pad_size,
     const array& pad_value = array(0),
-    const std::string mode = "constant",
+    const std::string& mode = "constant",
     StreamOrDevice s = {});
 
 /** Pad an array with a constant value along all axes */
@@ -282,19 +282,19 @@ array pad(
     const array& a,
     const std::vector<std::pair<int, int>>& pad_width,
     const array& pad_value = array(0),
-    const std::string mode = "constant",
+    const std::string& mode = "constant",
     StreamOrDevice s = {});
 array pad(
     const array& a,
     const std::pair<int, int>& pad_width,
     const array& pad_value = array(0),
-    const std::string mode = "constant",
+    const std::string& mode = "constant",
     StreamOrDevice s = {});
 array pad(
     const array& a,
     int pad_width,
     const array& pad_value = array(0),
-    const std::string mode = "constant",
+    const std::string& mode = "constant",
     StreamOrDevice s = {});
 
 /** Permutes the dimensions in reverse order. */
diff --git a/mlx/io/threadpool.h b/mlx/threadpool.h
similarity index 81%
rename from mlx/io/threadpool.h
rename to mlx/threadpool.h
index 0ed9859483..b0e56d0f2c 100644
--- a/mlx/io/threadpool.h
+++ b/mlx/threadpool.h
@@ -38,9 +38,13 @@ class ThreadPool {
   template <class F, class... Args>
   auto enqueue(F&& f, Args&&... args)
       -> std::future<typename std::invoke_result_t<F, Args...>>;
+  void resize(size_t);
   ~ThreadPool();
 
  private:
+  void stop_and_wait();
+  void start_threads(size_t);
+
   std::vector<std::thread> workers;
   std::queue<std::function<void()>> tasks;
   std::mutex queue_mutex;
@@ -49,24 +53,7 @@ class ThreadPool {
 };
 
 inline ThreadPool::ThreadPool(size_t threads) : stop(false) {
-  for (size_t i = 0; i < threads; ++i)
-    workers.emplace_back([this] {
-      for (;;) {
-        std::function<void()> task;
-
-        {
-          std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(this->queue_mutex);
-          this->condition.wait(
-              lock, [this] { return this->stop || !this->tasks.empty(); });
-          if (this->stop && this->tasks.empty())
-            return;
-          task = std::move(this->tasks.front());
-          this->tasks.pop();
-        }
-
-        task();
-      }
-    });
+  start_threads(threads);
 }
 
 template <class F, class... Args>
@@ -92,12 +79,55 @@ auto ThreadPool::enqueue(F&& f, Args&&... args)
   return res;
 }
 
+inline void ThreadPool::resize(size_t threads) {
+  if (workers.size() == threads) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (workers.size() > threads) {
+    stop_and_wait();
+  }
+  start_threads(threads - workers.size());
+}
+
 inline ThreadPool::~ThreadPool() {
+  stop_and_wait();
+}
+
+inline void ThreadPool::stop_and_wait() {
+  // Stop the current threads and wait until they finish
   {
     std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(queue_mutex);
     stop = true;
   }
   condition.notify_all();
-  for (std::thread& worker : workers)
+  for (std::thread& worker : workers) {
     worker.join();
+  }
+
+  // Reset the member variables so that the threadpool is reusable
+  stop = false;
+  workers.clear();
+}
+
+inline void ThreadPool::start_threads(size_t threads) {
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < threads; ++i) {
+    workers.emplace_back([this] {
+      for (;;) {
+        std::function<void()> task;
+
+        {
+          std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(this->queue_mutex);
+          this->condition.wait(
+              lock, [this] { return this->stop || !this->tasks.empty(); });
+          if (this->stop && this->tasks.empty())
+            return;
+          task = std::move(this->tasks.front());
+          this->tasks.pop();
+        }
+
+        task();
+      }
+    });
+  }
 }
diff --git a/python/src/distributed.cpp b/python/src/distributed.cpp
index f0459b8d3a..f3df1904d2 100644
--- a/python/src/distributed.cpp
+++ b/python/src/distributed.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include <nanobind/nanobind.h>
 #include <nanobind/stl/optional.h>
 #include <nanobind/stl/shared_ptr.h>
+#include <nanobind/stl/string.h>
 #include <nanobind/stl/variant.h>
 #include <nanobind/stl/vector.h>
 
@@ -58,14 +59,26 @@ void init_distributed(nb::module_& parent_module) {
       "init",
       &mx::distributed::init,
       "strict"_a = false,
-      nb::sig("def init(strict: bool = False) -> Group"),
+      "backend"_a = "any",
+      nb::sig("def init(strict: bool = False, backend: str = 'any') -> Group"),
       R"pbdoc(
         Initialize the communication backend and create the global communication group.
 
+        Example:
+
+          import mlx.core as mx
+
+          group = mx.distributed.init(backend="ring")
+
+
         Args:
           strict (bool, optional): If set to False it returns a singleton group
             in case ``mx.distributed.is_available()`` returns False otherwise
             it throws a runtime error. Default: ``False``
+          backend (str, optional): Select a specific distributed backend to
+            initialize. If set to ``any`` then try all available backends and
+            return the first one that succeeds. Subsequent calls will return
+            the first backend that was initialized. Default: ``any``
 
         Returns:
           Group: The group representing all the launched processes.
diff --git a/python/tests/mpi_test_distributed.py b/python/tests/mpi_test_distributed.py
index 2af7fcf9a9..79c58d8b6f 100644
--- a/python/tests/mpi_test_distributed.py
+++ b/python/tests/mpi_test_distributed.py
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ def test_all_reduce(self):
             mx.int32,
             mx.uint32,
             mx.float32,
+            mx.float16,
+            mx.bfloat16,
             mx.complex64,
         ]
         for dt in dtypes:
diff --git a/python/tests/ring_test_distributed.py b/python/tests/ring_test_distributed.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..215ecb44a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/tests/ring_test_distributed.py
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+# Copyright © 2024 Apple Inc.
+
+import unittest
+
+import mlx.core as mx
+import mlx_tests
+
+
+class TestRingDistributed(mlx_tests.MLXTestCase):
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        world = mx.distributed.init(strict=True, backend="ring")
+
+    def test_groups(self):
+        world = mx.distributed.init()
+        self.assertEqual(world.size(), 8)
+        self.assertTrue(0 <= world.rank() < 8)
+
+        world2 = mx.distributed.init()
+        self.assertEqual(world.size(), world2.size())
+        self.assertEqual(world.rank(), world2.rank())
+
+        with self.assertRaises(RuntimeError):
+            sub = world.split(world.rank() % 2)
+
+    def test_all_reduce(self):
+        world = mx.distributed.init()
+        dtypes = [
+            (mx.int8, 0),
+            (mx.uint8, 0),
+            (mx.int16, 0),
+            (mx.uint16, 0),
+            (mx.int32, 0),
+            (mx.uint32, 0),
+            (mx.float32, 1e-6),
+            (mx.float16, 5e-3),
+            (mx.bfloat16, 1e-1),
+            (mx.complex64, 1e-6),
+        ]
+        sizes = [
+            (7,),
+            (10,),
+            (1024,),
+            (1024, 1024),
+        ]
+        key = mx.random.key(0)
+        for dt, rtol in dtypes:
+            for sh in sizes:
+                x = (
+                    mx.random.uniform(shape=(world.size(),) + sh, key=key) * 10
+                ).astype(dt)
+                y = mx.distributed.all_sum(x[world.rank()])
+                z = sum(
+                    x[i] for i in range(world.size())
+                )  # to ensure that we don't sum to int32
+                maxrelerror = ((y - z).abs() / z.abs()).max()
+                self.assertLessEqual(maxrelerror, rtol)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/python/tests/run_ring_test.sh b/python/tests/run_ring_test.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3106e49173
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/tests/run_ring_test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+tmpfile=$(mktemp)
+cat <<HOSTFILE >$tmpfile
+[
+    ["127.0.0.1:5000"],
+    ["127.0.0.1:5001"],
+    ["127.0.0.1:5002"],
+    ["127.0.0.1:5003"],
+    ["127.0.0.1:5004"],
+    ["127.0.0.1:5005"],
+    ["127.0.0.1:5006"],
+    ["127.0.0.1:5007"]
+]
+HOSTFILE
+
+ring_test="$(dirname ${BASH_SOURCE[0]})/ring_test_distributed.py"
+
+for i in {0..7}; do
+    if (($i == 7)); then
+        sleep 1
+    fi
+    DEVICE=cpu MLX_RING_VERBOSE=1 MLX_HOSTFILE=$tmpfile MLX_RANK=$i python $ring_test &
+done
+wait