Benchmarks of Myricom's GM message-passing system and application-programming interface (API) show sustained, one-way, data rates of ~1.96 Gbits/s between UNIX user processes in different hosts, short-message latencies as low as 7µs, and very low host-CPU utilization. The GM system provides protected user-level access to the Myrinet (secure in multi-user, multiprogramming environments); reliable, ordered delivery of messages; network mapping and route computation; and other features that support robust and error-free communication. Other software interfaces such as MPI, VI, Sockets, and TCP/IP are layered efficiently over GM, and are available from Myricom and from third parties.

Technology and Reliability

Myrinet components are implemented with the same advanced technology -- full-custom-VLSI CMOS chips -- as today's workstations, servers, PCs, and single-board computers. This use of CMOS technology is one reason why Myrinet performance has advanced and will continue to advance in step with advances in the hosts, without changes to the network architecture and software interfaces.

 

 

These CMOS-based Myrinet components are also extremely reliable. Based on field experience accumulated for all Myrinet components shipped during the past four years, the MTBF of Myrinet switches exceeds one-million hours, and the MTBF of Myrinet interfaces is in the range of several million hours. Myrinet exhibits a very low bit-error rate, and is highly robust with respect to host, switch, and cable faults. Myrinet can map itself continuously, and use alternate routes to circumvent faults (e.g., disconnections and powering-down). The hardware computes and checks a CRC for each packet on each link. The interfaces provide parity checking both in their memory and on the PCI bus.

 

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