A fiber-optic interconnection concept for scaleable massively parallel computing

One of the most important features of interconnection networks for massively parallel computer systems is scaleability. The fiber-optic network described in this paper uses both wavelength division multiplexing and a confgurable ratio between optics and electronics to gain an architecture with good scaleability. The network connects distributed modules together to a huge parallel system where each node itself typically consists of parallel processing elements. The paper describes two different implementations of the star topology, one uses an electronic star and f b e r optic connections, the other is purely optical with a passive optical star in the center. The medium access control of the communication concept is presented and some scaleability properties are discussed involving also a multiple-star topology.