Cray Research, Inc.

Supercomputer Systems Limited Partnership

John M Wastlick

George A Spix

Steve S Chen

Edward C Priest

Douglas R Beard

Frederick J Simmons

Edward C Miller

James M VanDyke

Leonard S Veil

Mark J Vogel

A unified parallel processing architecture connects together an extendible number of clusters of multiple numbers of processors to create a high performance parallel processing computer system. Multiple processors are grouped together into four or more physically separable clusters, each cluster having a common cluster shared memory that is symmetrically accessible by all of the processors in that cluster; however, only some of the clusters are adjacently interconnected. Clusters are adjacently interconnected to form a floating shared memory if certain memory access conditions relating to relative memory latency and relative data locality can create an effective shared memory parallel programming environment. A shared memory model can be used with programs that can be executed in the cluster shared memory of a single cluster, or in the floating shared memory that is defined across an extended shared memory space comprised of the cluster shared memories of any set of adjacently interconnected clusters. A distributed memory model can be used with any programs that are to be executed in the cluster shared memories of any non-adjacently interconnected clusters. The adjacent interconnection of multiple clusters of processors to a create a floating shared memory effectively combines all three type of memory models, pure shared memory, extended shared memory and distributed shared memory, into a unified parallel processing architecture.

Extendible clock mechanism

Method and apparatus for a unified parallel processing architecture

A distributed architecture for the input/output system for a multiprocessor system provides for equal and democratic access to all shared hardware resources by both the processors and the external interface ports of the multiprocessor system. This allows one or more input/output concentrators attached to the external interface ports to have complete access to all of the shared hardware resources across the multiprocessor system without requiring processor intervention. The distributed input/output system provides for communication of data and control information between a set of common shared hardware resources and a set of external data sources. The result is a highly parallel multiprocessor system that has multiple parallel high performance input/output ports capable of operating in a distributed fashion. The distributed architecture also permits both processors and external interface ports to access all of the shared data structures associated with the operating system that contain the input/output control information.

Distributed architecture for input/output for a multiprocessor system

Growing community of inventors

Eau Claire, WI, United States of America

John M Wastlick