Primitive communication mechanism for adjacent nodes in a clustered computer system
First Claim
1. A method of communicating between nodes in a clustered computer system, the method comprising:
- (a) communicating a port identifier from a first node to a second node coupled to the first node over a point-to-point network, wherein the first node includes a plurality of network ports and a plurality of communication registers, wherein each communication register is dedicated to an associated network port among the plurality of network ports and is configured to store data received over such associated network port, and wherein the port identifier identifies a network port among the plurality of network ports to which the second node is coupled to the first node; and
(b) communicating data from the second node to the first node by initiating a write operation on the first node using the second node to store the data in the communication register associated with the network port identified by the port identifier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit arrangement, node, clustered computer system, and method incorporate a primitive communication mechanism for use in exchanging data between adjacent nodes coupled via a point-to-point network. A plurality of network ports are used to couple a node to other nodes in the clustered computer system over point-to-point network interconnects, and a plurality of communication registers are associated with each of the network ports for the purpose of storing data received through their associated network ports. A node desiring to communicate information to another node receives a port identifier from the other node that identifies the network port on the other node through which the pair of nodes are coupled. The port identifier is then used by the node to communicate data to the other node through the use of one or more write operations directed to the communication register on the other node that is associated with the network port identified by the port identifier. On the other node, a control circuit is used to automatically notify the other node whenever data is stored in any of its communication registers, e.g., by generating an interrupt in response to non-zero data being stored in any of such communication registers.
137 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of communicating between nodes in a clustered computer system, the method comprising:
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(a) communicating a port identifier from a first node to a second node coupled to the first node over a point-to-point network, wherein the first node includes a plurality of network ports and a plurality of communication registers, wherein each communication register is dedicated to an associated network port among the plurality of network ports and is configured to store data received over such associated network port, and wherein the port identifier identifies a network port among the plurality of network ports to which the second node is coupled to the first node; and
(b) communicating data from the second node to the first node by initiating a write operation on the first node using the second node to store the data in the communication register associated with the network port identified by the port identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A circuit arrangement, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of network ports, each configured to couple a first node from a clustered computer system to another node in the clustered computer system over a point-to-point network;
(b) a plurality of communication registers, each dedicated to an associated network port among the plurality of network ports and configured to store data received through such associated network port; and
(c) a control circuit coupled to the plurality of communication registers and configured to automatically notify the first node in response to storage of data in any of the plurality of communication registers. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A node for use in a clustered computer system, the node comprising:
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(a) a plurality of network ports, each configured to couple to another node in the clustered computer system over a point-to-point network;
(b) a plurality of communication registers, each dedicated to an associated network port among the plurality of network ports and configured to store data received through such associated network port; and
(c) a control circuit coupled to the plurality of communication registers and configured to automatically notify the node in response to storage of data in any of the plurality of communication registers. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A clustered computer system comprising:
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(a) a plurality of nodes, each node including;
(i) a plurality of network ports;
(ii) a plurality of communication registers, each dedicated to an associated network port among the plurality of network ports and configured to store data received through such associated network port; and
(iii) a control circuit coupled to the plurality of communication registers and configured to automatically notify such node in response to storage of data in any of the plurality of communication registers; and
(b) a plurality of point-to-point network interconnects, each coupled between a pair of nodes from the plurality of nodes through network ports on each of the pair of nodes.
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Specification