FAULT TOLERANT INTERCONNECT TOPOLOGY

摘要

An interconnect topology providing enhanced fault tolerance to a multi-component data processing system (10). The topology utilizes a plurality of rings (26-29) for interconnecting multiple system components (25a-d), or cards, at least two of which are indirectly connected so that communication therebetween is through a third component. Each of the system components (25a-d) is coupled to a set of at least two different rings (26-29) and includes interface circuits (282, 284) for routing data and a bridge (202) for permitting data to be transferred between the at least two rings (26-29).