Patent ID: 7356026
Filing Date: 2008-04-08
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of node translation for communicating over virtual channels in a clustered multiprocessor system, the clustered multiprocessor system including a plurality of processing element nodes including a local processing element node and a remote processing element node, and a network interconnect coupled between the processing element nodes for sending communications between the processing element nodes, wherein the local processing element node includes a processor and a communication engine, comprising: assigning a connection descriptor to a virtual connection, the connection descriptor being a handle that specifies an endpoint node for the virtual connection; defining a local connection table accessible by the communication engine, wherein the local connection table is configured to be accessed using the connection descriptor to produce a system node identifier for the endpoint node; generating, within the processor, a communication request including the connection descriptor; in response to the communication request, accessing, via the communication engine, the local connection table using the connection descriptor of the communication request to produce the system node identifier for the endpoint node for the virtual connection; and sending a memory request from the communication engine to the endpoint node, wherein the memory request is sent to the local processing element node if the endpoint node is the local processing element node, and is sent over the network interconnect to the remote processing element node if the endpoint node is the remote processing element node and wherein transfer of data associated with the memory request occurs independently of the processor that generated the communication request.