Performance and Implementation of 4x4 Switching Nodes in an Interconnection Network for Pasm

Design issues for the multistage Generalized Cube network are discussed in this paper. An analysis of the merits of 2-input/2-output interchange boxes versus 4-input/4-output crossbars for interconnection network implementation is made. The cost and performance of each network for the two switching node alternatives are examined. Discussion of the s u i t a b i l i t y of each approach for VLSI implementation is included. I t is shown that in a packet switching environment, 4x4 crossbars outperform, and are less expensive to implement than the four interchange boxes they replace.