Design and Analysis of the BlueGene/L Torus Interconnection Network

BlueGene/L (BG/L) is a 64K (65,536) node scientific and engineering supercomputer that IBM is developing with partial funding from the United States Department of Energy. This paper describes one of the primary BG/L interconnection networks, a three dimensional torus. We describe a parallel performance simulator that was used extensively to help architect and design the torus network and present sample simulator performance studies that contributed to design decisions. In addition to such studies, the simulator was also used during the logic verification phase of BG/L for performance verification, and its use there uncovered a bug in the VHDL implementation of one of the arbiters.

By: M. Blumrich, D. Chen, P. Coteus, A. Gara, M. Giampapa, P. Heidelberger, S. Singh, B. Steinmacher-Burow, T. Takken, P. Vranas

Published in: RC23025 in 2003

LIMITED DISTRIBUTION NOTICE:

This Research Report is available. This report has been submitted for publication outside of IBM and will probably be copyrighted if accepted for publication. It has been issued as a Research Report for early dissemination of its contents. In view of the transfer of copyright to the outside publisher, its distribution outside of IBM prior to publication should be limited to peer communications and specific requests. After outside publication, requests should be filled only by reprints or legally obtained copies of the article (e.g., payment of royalties). I have read and understand this notice and am a member of the scientific community outside or inside of IBM seeking a single copy only.

rc23025.pdf

Questions about this service can be mailed to reports@us.ibm.com .