Multi-stage interconnect network for processing system.

摘要

A multistage interconnect network (l4) capable of supporting massive parallel processing, including point-to-point and multicast communications between processor modules (l2) which are connected to the input and output ports (20) of the network includes interconnected switch nodes (l6) arranged in 2 [logb N] stages, wherein b is the number of switch node input/output ports (36,38), N is the number of network input/output ports (20) and [logb N] indicates a ceiling function providing the smallest integer not less than logb N. The additional stages provide additional paths between network input ports (20) and network output ports (20), thereby enhancing fault tolerance and lessening contention.