Taking over mechanism on martini: a network interface controller for network based parallel and distributed computing

摘要

A network interface controller chip Martini has been developed in an RWC project for network based parallel and distributed computing. For low latency and high bandwidth communication, it performs main primitives almost completely with hardwired controller. However, for treating complicated primitives or exceptional conditions, a software with embedded CPU is also required. Even in this case, completely replacing hardwired processing with a software control will degrade the performance. "Taking Over" is a mechanism which enables to replace only a module of hardwired controller with a software control. The design methodology of hardwired controller for "Taking Over" is discussed, and the design example in Martini is shown.