Coherent Node Controller for Scalable High-Performance Computing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern high-performance computing systems face limitations in scalability and efficiency due to high energy consumption for inter-node signal transmission and the need for multiple operating system instances to manage resources, restricting system size and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A multi-port node controller with cache coherent interfaces and interconnected protocol engines reduces latency and power consumption by enabling on-chip parallel data paths and eliminating external wire communication, using network interface controllers and coherent link layers to connect nodes through network switches in a fat tree topology.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If direct point-to-point links are used to connect processor modules, then system connectivity is achieved, but system size is limited to 4-8 modules due to energy consumption and data coherency overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into nodes, each containing multiple processor modules that share a common memory space and are managed by a single operating system instance. This segmentation allows the system to scale beyond 8 modules by grouping processors into manageable nodes, reducing the data coherency overhead while maintaining connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
An interconnect switching system acts as an intermediary between nodes, managing communication and data coherency across the system. This intermediary handles the complexity of maintaining data coherency across multiple nodes, allowing the system to scale to hundreds or thousands of processor modules without requiring each processor to directly manage coherency with every other processor.
2Ease of operation
If multiple operating system instances are used to manage resources in each node, then resource management capability is improved, but system efficiency and flexibility deteriorate due to increased overhead
Solution Approach 1:
A single operating system instance is designed to manage resources across multiple processor modules within a node, providing universal resource management capability. This multi-functional approach allows one OS instance to handle memory allocation, process scheduling, and device management for all processors in the node, eliminating the overhead of multiple OS instances while maintaining full resource management capability.
3Speed
If external wire communication is used between processor modules, then system connectivity is achieved, but power consumption increases and latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple communication functions are merged into a single on-chip interconnect network within each node. This integration combines data paths, address paths, and control signals into a unified communication fabric that operates at high speed with low power consumption, eliminating the need for separate external wire communication channels between processor modules.
Data Source
AI summary
A cache coherent node controller at least includes one or more network interface controllers, each network interface controller includes at least one network interface, and at least two coherent interfaces each configured for communication with a microprocessor. A computer system includes one or more of nodes wherein each node is connected to at least one network switch, each node at least includes a cache coherent node controller.