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We developed the RHiNET-2/SW high-speed network switch for a high-throughput parallel computing system consisting of optically interconnected distributed personal computers (PCs). RHiNET-2/SW enables high-throughput network switching (64 Gbit/s) by means of a switching LSI and eight pairs of synchronized parallel optical interconnection modules. To confirm the reliability of RHiNET-2/SW, we measured its bit error rate (BER), which was less than 10-11 (estimated value: 10-20). Five RHiNET-2/SWs and sixteen PC nodes can perform parallel computing. This result demonstrates the feasibility of optical interconnection in a high-speed, flexible network in a parallel computing system. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 85(6): 1–10, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.10022 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors have developed a communications architecture called RHiNET that is capable of high-performance parallel processing by interconnecting PCs and WSs. RHiNET uses not only computers concentrated in one place but also computers used for daily business within buildings and within floors for parallel processing. Networks used by RHiNET should have high effective bandwidths and small latencies for high-efficiency computing, as well as link lengths for connecting the computers within buildings and floors and a free topology. The former requirements are not satisfied sufficiently by the conventional LANs, while the latter is not satisfied by SANs which are used in cluster systems. RHiNET satisfies both conditions by using a switch having a large memory capacity. In this paper, the architecture and implementation of the RHiNET/SW1 switch used by RHiNET networks are discussed. A scheme called virtual cache is used in RHiNET/SW1 such that a large-capacity packet buffer is installed by SRAM outside the switch ASIC. In addition, the performance of the switch is evaluated by a simulator. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Syst Comp Jpn, 32(14): 24–33, 2001 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]