Position discovery by detecting irregularities in a network topology

摘要

Processing nodes in a 3D torus network topology are connected together via an interconnect that introduces at least one irregularity into the link connections between processing nodes of each ring of the network. Each processing node detects whether there is an irregularity in its links with adjacent processing nodes in a ring. As the sockets or other processing node interfaces of the interconnect are wired to introduce this irregularity and as the positions of the processing nodes within a given ring are relative to this irregularity, the physical location of the processing nodes can be determined based on correlations between physical locations of the sockets relative to the irregularity and the positions of the processing nodes relative to the irregularity. Thus, the relative position of a processing node in the ring can be used to identify the socket with which the processing node is coupled, thereby facilitating network management operations.

主权项

1. In a network of processing nodes, a method comprising:
at a first processing node of a first ring of processing nodes comprising the first processing node, a second processing node, and a third processing node, determining the first processing node is at an absolute position in the first ring responsive to determining that a first link between the first processing node and the second processing node has a link characteristic different than a link characteristic of a second link between the first processing node and the third processing node.