Interconnect Network

The interconnect network is a private network within the HP XC system, and it is dedicated to communication between processors and access to data in storage areas. Typically, every node in the HP XC system is connected to the interconnect.

The interconnect provides a high-speed communications path used primarily for user file service and for communications within applications that are distributed among nodes of the cluster. Table 1-2 lists the interconnects that are supported on each cluster platform.

The Myrinet adapters can be either the single-port M3F-PCIXD-2 (Rev. D) or the dual port M3F2–PCIXE-2 (Rev. E). All adapters must be of one type only; a mix of both types of adapters is not supported.

The QsNet^II high-speed interconnect from Quadrics, Ltd. is the only version of Quadrics interconnects that is supported.

From the perspective of the HP XC software, the interconnect is a flat network (that is, communication between any two points in the interconnect network is equal in communication time between any other two points in the network). The HP XC System Software ignores the interconnect structure except for integration with the management functions that are necessary to manage the interconnect.