High-performance scalable computing for real-time applications

Sanders is integrating emerging interconnect technologies with other high-performance computing technologies to meet the demanding requirements of future, real-time, embedded military applications. Myrinet, a switched network, is used to connect heterogeneous computer nodes in a low-latency, high-throughput system area network (SAN). Myrinet includes a standardized intelligent node-to-network interface, called a LANai, which isolates each node from the network. Types of nodes under development include digital signal processor (DSP), reduced instruction set computing (RISC), and reconfigurable computing (RC). Modeling and simulation of the computing system are performed within the Ptolemy environment. High density interconnect (HDI) packaging reduces size, weight and power (SWAP), a requirement especially important for avionics applications. PacketWay, an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) proposed standard, provides a high-performance interface between heterogeneous SANs, and includes an option for high speed inter-SAN encryption. A prototype high-performance scalable computer is being built at Sanders with this set of technologies, to meet the requirements of several future military programs.