SCI Research Activities

Overview

For a node in an SCI network, when a request or response packet enters over the input link, it is relayed by an address decoder to a request or response input FIFO, respectively, if the packet's destination address matches the address of the node. If it does not match, the packet is relayed through a bypass FIFO to return to the network via the output link. Similarly, requests and responses made by the host are queued and then multiplexed onto the output link along with the output of the bypass FIFO.

The High-performance Computing and Simulation (HCS) Research Laboratory has been conducting research on and with Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) since 1995. Currently, there are a number of research and development activities being conducted, both experimental and simulative. The primary sponsors for these activities are the National Security Agency (NSA), Dolphin Interconnect, and Scali, and we gratefully acknowledge their support.

The SCI equipment in the lab is featured in three clusters: Kappa cluster (18 nodes of 5.3 Gb/s SCI in 2D or 3D configuration with PCI64/66); Lamdba cluster (16 nodes of 5.3 Gb/s SCI in 2D configuration with PCI64/66 interface); and Theta cluster (9 nodes of 4.0 Gb/s SCI in 2D configuration with PCI32/33 interface). More information on our entire set of clusters can be found here.

SCI Publications

• M. Chidester and A. George, "Parallel Simulation of Chip-Multiprocessor Architectures," ACM Transactions on Modeling and Computer Simulation, accepted and in press.

• S. Oral and A. George, "Multicast Performance Analysis for High-Speed Torus Networks," Proc. of IEEE Conference on Local Computer Networks (LCN) via the High-Speed Local Networks (HSLN) Workshop, Tampa, FL, November 6-8, 2002.

• S. Millich, A. George, and S. Oral, "Throughput Modeling and Evaluation of Scalable System Area Networks," Proc. of IEEE Conference on Local Computer Networks (LCN) via the High-Speed Local Networks (HSLN) Workshop, Tampa, FL, November 6-8, 2002.

• R. Todd, M. Chidester, and A. George, "Comparative Performance Analysis of Directed Flow Control for Real-Time SCI," Computer Networks, Vol. 37, No. 4, Nov. 2001, pp. 391-406.

  

• D. Gonzalez, A. George, and M. Chidester, "Performance Modeling and Evaluation of Topologies for Low-Latency SCI Systems," Microprocessors and Microsystems, Vol. 25, No. 7, Oct. 2001, pp. 343-356.

• M. Sarwar and A. George, "Simulative Performance Analysis of Distributed Switching Fabrics for SCI-based Systems," Microprocessors and Microsystems, Vol. 24, No. 1, Mar. 2000, pp. 1-11.

• M. Burns, A. George, and B. Wallace, "Modeling and Simulative Performance Analysis of SMP and Clustered Computer Architectures," Simulation, Vol. 74, No. 2, Feb. 2000, pp. 84-96.

• M. Sarwar, A. George, and D. Collins, "Simulative Reliability Analysis of SCI Ring-Based Topologies," Proc. of IEEE Conference on Local Computer Networks (LCN), Tampa, FL, November 8-10, 2000.

• A. George, J. Markwell, R. Fogarty, and M. Miars, "An Integrated Simulation Environment for Parallel and Distributed System Prototyping," Simulation, Vol. 72, No. 5, May 1999, pp. 283-294.

• M. Sarwar and A. George, "Simulative Analysis of Fault-Tolerant Distributed Switching Fabrics for SCI," Proc. of 11th Intnl. SCI Workshop (SCIzzL), Santa Clara, California, March 1999, pp. 5-22.

• A. George, R. Todd, and W. Phipps, "Experimental Analysis of Communications Interfaces for High-Performance Clusters," Proc. High-Performance Computing Symposium (HPC'98), Boston, MA, April 5-9, 1998, pp. 283-288.

SCI Theses and Dissertations

• Mark W. Burns, "Modeling and Simulative Analysis of Symmetric Multiprocessor and Clustered Computer Architectures," MSECE Thesis, Major Professor: A. George, Spring 1999.

• Matthew C. Chidester, "Specification and Simulation of a Directed Flow Control for Ring-Based, Real-Time Networking," MSECE Thesis, Major Professor: A. George, Summer 1998.

• Matthew C. Chidester, "Parallel Simulation and Multiple-Path Execution Techniques for Chip-Multiprocessor Architectures," Ph.D. Dissertation, Major Professor: A. George, Summer 2001.

  

• Ryan B. Fogarty, "An Integrated Simulation Environment for Parallel and Distributed System Prototyping," MSECE Thesis, Major Professor: A. George, Fall 1998.

• Damian M. Gonzalez, "Performance Modeling and Evaluation of Topologies for Low-Latency SCI Systems," MSECE Thesis, Major Professor: A. George, Fall 2000.

• William A. Phipps, "A Lightweight Thread Synchronization and Communication Subsystem for the Scalable Cluster Architecture Latency-hiding Environment," MSEE Thesis, Major Professor: A. George, Spring 1997.

• Mushtaq A. Sarwar, "On the Performance and Reliability of Fault-Tolerant Scalable Coherent Interface Networks," Ph.D. Dissertation, Major Professor: A. George, Fall 1999.

• Robert W. Todd, "A Simulation Case Study of Proposed Real-Time Protocols based on the Scalable Coherent Interface," MSEE Thesis, Major Professor: A. George, Summer 1996.

Current SCI Activities

• high-performance computing with SCI clusters

• multicast communication algorithms and optimizations for SCI networks

• GASNet communication layer for UPC on SCI clusters

• performance analysis and optimization of SCI clusters

• processor-in-memory (PIM) architectures with SCI interconnects

• CAD-based modeling and simulation of SCI networks and systems

• comparative analysis of SCI networks and systems versus

  other system- and local-area networks (e.g. InfiniBand, Myrinet, QsNet/Quadrics, Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gigabit Ethernet)

Last updated: September 13, 2003