PCI-SCI Protocol Translations: Applying Microprogramming Concepts to FPGAs

摘要

The SMiLE project at LRR-TUM adopts and implements the Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) interconnection technology to couple Pentium-II based PCs into a compute cluster with distributed shared memory. A custom PCI-SCI adapter has been developed for bridging the PC's PCI local bus with the SCI network. Such a PCI-SCI adapter intended for connecting PCI-based PCs via SCI involves complex protocol processing. In the paper we describe the rationale and implementation issues of our custom PCI-SCI adapter design. In particular, we demonstrate how traditional microprogramming techniques can be applied for a structured and simplified FPGA design.