Multi-node network with internode switching performed within processor nodes, each node separately processing data and control messages
First Claim
1. A distributed data processing system configured as a disk drive controller array, comprising:
- a plurality of disk drive controller nodes, each disk drive controller node directly connected to each of N other nodes via a bi-directional communication link, where N>
=4, each said node thereby having at least twice as much input/output bandwidth as internal message handling bandwidth, each disk drive controller node further comprising;
control message means for substantially independent handling of control messages;
control memory means coupled to said control message means for storing control messages;
disk drive means;
data message means for substantially independent handling of data messages;
data memory means coupled to said data message means for storing data messages to and from said disk drive means;
processor means coupled to each of the aforesaid means, for causing said data message means to assemble, queue and dispatch data messages from said data memory means and said control message means to assemble, queue and dispatch control messages from said control memory means, said data messages generally being substantially longer than said control messages; and
input/output (I/O) switch means coupled between said N bi-directional communication links and said data message means and control message means and including routing control means, for utilizing said N bidirectional communication links to enable concurrent dispatch of control messages and data messages in accord with outputs from said routing control means, said I/O switch means employing said N bidirectional communication links to enable dispatch of said control messages, without requiring delay thereof pending completion of dispatch of said data messages.
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Abstract
A distributed data processing system includes a plurality of nodes interconnected by bidirectional communication links. Each node includes a control message line for handling of control messages and a control memory for storing the control messages. Each node further includes data message line for handling of data messages and a data memory for storing the data messages. A processor in the node causes the data message line to queue and dispatch data messages from the data memory and the control message line to queue and dispatch control messages from the control memory. Each node includes N bidirectional communication links enabling the node to have at least twice as much input/output bandwidth as the control message line and data message line, combined. An input/output switch includes a routing processor and is coupled between the N bidirectional communication links, the data message line and control message line. The input/output switch dispatches either a control message or a data message over at least one of the bidirectional communication links in accordance with an output from the routing control processor, thereby enabling each communication link to carry either data or control messages. If a communication link is busy with either a control or a data message, the routing control processor increments to another communication link to enable dispatch of a queued message.
69 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A distributed data processing system configured as a disk drive controller array, comprising:
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a plurality of disk drive controller nodes, each disk drive controller node directly connected to each of N other nodes via a bi-directional communication link, where N>
=4, each said node thereby having at least twice as much input/output bandwidth as internal message handling bandwidth, each disk drive controller node further comprising;control message means for substantially independent handling of control messages; control memory means coupled to said control message means for storing control messages; disk drive means; data message means for substantially independent handling of data messages; data memory means coupled to said data message means for storing data messages to and from said disk drive means; processor means coupled to each of the aforesaid means, for causing said data message means to assemble, queue and dispatch data messages from said data memory means and said control message means to assemble, queue and dispatch control messages from said control memory means, said data messages generally being substantially longer than said control messages; and input/output (I/O) switch means coupled between said N bi-directional communication links and said data message means and control message means and including routing control means, for utilizing said N bidirectional communication links to enable concurrent dispatch of control messages and data messages in accord with outputs from said routing control means, said I/O switch means employing said N bidirectional communication links to enable dispatch of said control messages, without requiring delay thereof pending completion of dispatch of said data messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification