Optical fiber interconnection for the scalable parallel computing system

In this paper, we discuss the optical fiber interconnection technologies applied in the two types of parallel processing systems: 1) a backplane interconnection in a parallel processor array system and 2) a computing cluster network. We have set up a parallel processor array system using optical fiber to make point-to-point interconnection between processor elements and are developing a low-cost virtual parallel optical fiber interconnection link (VPOFLink) complying with peripheral component interconnect (PCI) local bus specifications for the computing cluster. VPOFLink is integrated with the popular PCI bus interface in order to make the link hold the same bandwidth as that of the PCI bus. It was fabricated as an available peripheral device that can been inserted into the bus slots of commercial computers directly and can operate under the control of PCI bus. Also in this paper, we demonstrate the optical fiber link for a ring network and the architecture of the ring network.