High-speed networks for high-performance computing

Trends in high-speed computer communication network systems are discussed, and an analysis of how high-speed networks will facilitate distributed computing is given. A high-speed network system under development at Carnegie Mellon University, called Nectar, is described. The Nectar system is a high-bandwidth, low-latency computer network for connecting high-performance hosts. Hosts are attached using powerful network coprocessors, called CABs, that accelerate communication protocols. The CAB can be on the same board as the host or connected to the host via an external bus backplane. The Nectar network (Nectar-Net) consists of fiber-optic links and crossbar switches, called HUBs. The Nectar system has a command set that supports circuit switching, packet switching, multihop routing, and multicast communication.<>