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An introduction to the multistage cube family of interconnection networks

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Abstract

The interconnection network in large-scale parallel/distributed supercomputer systems is a crucial component. Three networks are overviewed here. Multistage cube networks represent an important family of networks, which includes the omega, n-cube, multistage shuffle-exchange, delta, baseline, SW-banyan, and Generalized Cube. This family has been used or proposed for use in such systems as staran, pasm, Ultracomputer, the BBN Butterfly, the IBM RP3, and data-flow machines. The multistage cube topology, distributed routing control, and ability to be partitioned into independent subnetworks are examined. The Extra Stage Cube (ESC), a single-fault-tolerant multistage cube network, is described. The structure, control, and partitionability of the ESC, and how it functions when multiple faults occur, are presented. The Dynamic Redundancy (DR) network, a fault-tolerant multistage cube network that supports the incorporation of spare processors for fault tolerance, is discussed. Its structure, control, and partitionability into single-fault-tolerant subnetworks are explained.

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This research was supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under grant F49620-86-K-0006, the Rome Air Development Center under grant F30602-83-K-0119, and the Purdue Research Foundation David Ross Grant 1985/86 no. 0857.

currently with the Supercomputing Research Center, 4380 Forbes Blvd., Lanham, MD 20706 (as of June 1, 1987).

currently with Computer Science Department, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801.

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Siegel, H.J., Tsun-Yuk Hsu, W. & Jeng, M. An introduction to the multistage cube family of interconnection networks. J Supercomput 1, 13–42 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00138604

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