A MULTIPROCESSOR SYSTEM

A

MULTIPROCESSOR SYSTEM

Mariam A. Salih

Multiprocessors interconnection networks (INs) classification.

Mode of Operation

Control Strategy

switching techniques

Topology BUS-BASED DYNAMIC INTERCONNECTION NETWORKS

“Single Bus Systems”

“Multiple Bus Systems”

SWITCH-BASED DYNAMIC INTERCONNECTION NETWORKS First type of SWITCH-BASED DYNAMIC INTERCONNECTION

NETWORKS “Crossbar Networks“

A multiprocessor system consists of multiple processing units connected via some interconnection network plus a software needed to make the processing units work together.

There are two major factors used to categorize

such systems: the processing units themselves, and the interconnection network that ties them together.

Multiprocessors interconnection networks (INs) can be classified based on a number of criteria. These include:

1. mode of operation (synchronous versus asynchronous),

2. control strategy (centralized versus decentralized),

3. switching techniques (circuit versus packet), and 4. topology (static versus dynamic).

Mode of Operation According to the mode of operation, INs classified

as synchronous versus asynchronous. In synchronous mode of operation, a single global

clock is used by all components in the system such that the whole system is operating in a lock–step manner.

Asynchronous mode of operation, on the other hand, does not require a global clock. Handshaking signals are used instead in order to coordinate the operation of asynchronous systems.

While synchronous systems tend to be slower compared to asynchronous systems, they are race and hazard-free.

Control Strategy According to the control strategy, INs can be

classified as centralized versus decentralized. In centralized control systems, a single central control unit

is used to oversee and control the operation of the components of the system.

In decentralized control, the control function is distributed among different components in the system.

The function and reliability of the central control unit can become the bottleneck in a centralized control system.

While the crossbar is a centralized system, the multistage interconnection networks are decentralized.

Switching Techniques Interconnection networks can be classified

according to the switching mechanism as circuit switching versus packet switching networks.

In the circuit switching mechanism, a complete path has to be established prior to the start of communication between a source and a destination. The established path will remain in existence during the whole communication period.

In a packet switching mechanism, communication between a source and destination takes place via messages that are divided into smaller entities, called packets. On their way to the destination, packets can be sent from a node to another in a store-and-forward manner until they reach their destination.

While packet switching tends to use the network resources more efficiently compared to circuit switching, it suffers from variable packet delays.

Topology

Topology

An interconnection network could be either static or

dynamic.

Connections in a static network are fixed links, while

connections in a dynamic network are established on the fly as needed.

Static networks can be further classified according to their

interconnection pattern as one-dimension (1D), two-

dimension (2D), or hypercube (HC).

Dynamic networks, on the other hand, can be classified

based on interconnection scheme as bus-based versus

switch-based.

Bus-based networks can further be classified as single bus or

multiple buses.

Switch-based dynamic networks can be classified according

to the structure of the interconnection network as single-

stage (SS), multistage (MS), or crossbar networks.

BUS-BASED DYNAMIC INTERCONNECTION

NETWORKS “Single Bus Systems”

A single bus is considered the simplest way to connect multiprocessor systems.

In its general form, such a system consists of N processors, each having its own cache, connected by a shared bus.

The use of local caches reduces the processor–memory traffic.

All processors communicate with a single shared memory.

The typical size of such a system varies between 2 and 50 processors.


NETWORKS “Single Bus Systems”

A simple and easy to expand, single bus multiprocessors are inherently limited by the bandwidth of the bus and the fact that only one processor can access the bus, and in turn only one memory access can take place at any given time.


NETWORKS “Multiple Bus Systems”

A multiple bus multiprocessor system uses

several parallel buses to interconnect multiple

processors and multiple memory modules.

In general, multiple bus multiprocessor

organization offers a number of desirable

features such as high reliability and ease of

incremental growth.

A single bus failure will leave distinct fault-free

paths between the processors and the

memory modules.



The multiple-bus with full bus–memory connection (MBFBMC), has all memory modules connected to all buses.

The multiple-bus with single bus–memory connection (MBSBMC), has each memory module connected to a specific bus.

The multiple-bus with partial bus–memory connection

(MBPBMC), has each memory module connected to a subset of buses.

The multiple-bus with class-based memory connection (MBCBMC), has memory modules grouped into classes whereby each class is connected to a specific subset of buses. A class is just an arbitrary collection of memory modules.



EX:-Illustrations of these connection schemes for the case of N = 6 processors, M = 4 memory modules, and B = 4.

Bus Synchronization In a single bus multiprocessor system, bus

arbitration is required in order to resolve the bus contention that takes place when more than one processor competes to access the bus.

processors that want to use the bus submit their requests to bus arbitration logic. The latter decides, using a certain priority scheme, which processor will be granted access to the bus during a certain time interval (bus master).

The process of passing bus mastership from one processor to another is called handshaking.

Bus request: indicates that a given processor is requesting mastership of the bus.

Bus grant: indicates that bus mastership is granted.

Bus busy: is usually used to indicate whether or not the bus is currently being used.

Bus Synchronization

In deciding which processor gains control of the bus, the bus arbitration logic uses a predefined priority scheme. Among the priority schemes used are random priority, simple rotating priority, equal priority, and least recently used (LRU) priority.

After each arbitration cycle, in simple rotating priority, all priority levels are reduced one place, with the lowest priority processor taking the highest priority. In equal priority, when two or more requests are made, there is equal chance of any one request being processed. In the LRU algorithm, the highest priority is given to the processor that has not used the bus for the longest time

Bus Synchronization

SWITCH-BASED DYNAMIC INTERCONNECTION

NETWORKS

In this type of network, connections

among processors and memory modules

are made using simple switches. Three

basic interconnection topologies exist:

(1) crossbar.

(2) single-stage, or multistage,

Crossbar Networks The simplest circuit for connecting N*K

source/destination pairs is the crossbar switch;

The major advantage of the crossbar switch is its

potential for speed. In one clock, a connection can be made between source and destination.

At each intersection of a horizontal (incoming) and vertical (outgoing) line is a crosspoint.

A crosspoint is a small switch that can be electrically opened or closed, depending on whether the horizontal and vertical lines are to be connected or not.

Crossbar Networks

between the (CPU, memory) pairs (001, 000), (101, 101), and (110, 010) at the same time.

Many other combinations are also possible.

Crossbar Networks

One of the worst properties of the crossbar switch is the fact that the number of crosspoints grows as n2. With 1000 CPUs and 1000 memory modules we need a million crosspoints. Such a large crossbar switch is not feasible. Nevertheless, for medium-sized systems, a crossbar design is workable.

Problem arises when multiple requests are destined for same memory module at the same time. In such cases, only one of the requests is serviced at a time.

To resolve the contention for each memory module, each crosspoint switch must be designed with extra H/W. An arbitration module makes the selection on the basis of priority.

Simple Quiz..

A MULTIPROCESSOR SYSTEM

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