Memory channel network for PCI

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Abstract
A memory-based networking approach provides clusters of computers up to 1,000 times the communication performance of conventional networks, with no compromise in cost or reliability. The memory channel for PCI's performance gains are the result of a system design approach that exploits natural cluster constraints to define a memory-based network. MC implements a form of virtual shared memory that permits applications to completely bypass the operating system and perform cluster communication directly from the user level. The hardware's simple and powerful communication model supports error handling at almost no cost or complexity to the application; guaranteed ordering under errors is the key innovation. The end result: Real-world cluster communication latency dropped by up to two orders of magnitude, and overhead by up to three orders of magnitude. These improvements elevate a lowly set of standard PCI computers running Unix into an impressive, highly available, parallel computing system.

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