Multi-Protocol Fabric Module for Remote Memory Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional shared nothing architectures in network systems lack the ability to perform remote memory access, remote DMA transactions, and remote interrupts, limiting their scalability and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A multi-protocol fabric module that enables load/store operations from remote memory, performs remote DMA transactions, and handles remote interrupts across a switched interconnect fabric, using a combination of protocol processors, address translation modules, and fabric switches to accommodate different protocols and topologies, allowing for flexible network operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If shared nothing architecture is used for network systems, then scalability is improved, but the ability to perform remote memory access, remote DMA transactions, and remote interrupts is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces fabric modules as intermediary components between compute nodes in the network fabric. These fabric modules enable remote memory access, DMA transactions, and interrupt handling by acting as mediators that translate and route requests across the fabric while maintaining the shared-nothing architecture's scalability benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments functionality by separating compute nodes from storage and I/O resources, with fabric modules providing specialized services. This segmentation allows compute nodes to remain independent while still accessing remote resources through the fabric module infrastructure
2Adaptability or versatility
If multi-protocol fabric modules are added to enable remote operations, then functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric modules are designed as universal components that can handle multiple protocols and types of operations (memory access, DMA, interrupts) through a unified architecture. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components for each operation type
Solution Approach 2:
The fabric modules include self-configuration and self-management capabilities, automatically detecting and configuring themselves within the fabric. This self-service approach reduces the complexity of manual configuration and management of the added functionality
3Productivity
If remote DMA transactions are enabled across the fabric, then performance is improved, but the ability to maintain shared-nothing architecture is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Fabric modules act as intermediaries that enable DMA transactions across the fabric while maintaining the shared-nothing architecture. The fabric modules manage the complexity of remote DMA operations, allowing compute nodes to perform high-performance data transfers without directly managing the complexity of cross-node memory access
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-protocol personality module enabling load/store from remote memory, remote Direct memory Access (DMA) transactions, and remote interrupts, which permits enhanced performance, power utilization and functionality. In one form, the module is used as a node in a network fabric and adds a routing header to packets entering the fabric, maintains the routing header for efficient node-to-node transport, and strips the header when the packet leaves the fabric. In particular, a remote bus personality component is described. Several use cases of the Remote Bus Fabric Personality Module are disclosed: 1) memory sharing across a fabric connected set of servers; 2) the ability to access physically remote Input Output (I/O) devices across this fabric of connected servers; and 3) the sharing of such physically remote I/O devices, such as storage peripherals, by multiple fabric connected servers.