A memory hub for a memory module has a DMA engine for performing DMA operations in system memory. The memory hub includes a link interface for receiving memory requests for access at least one of the memory devices of the system memory (240), and further including a memory device interface for coupling to the memory devices, the memory device interface coupling memory requests to the memory devices for access to at least one of the memory devices. A switch for selectively coupling the link interface and the memory device interface is further included in the memory hub. Additionally, a direct memory access (DMA) engine is coupled through the switch to the memory device interface to generate memory requests for access to at least one of the memory devices to perform DMA operations.