InfiniBandInfiniBandBy Group 3: By Group 3: Casey BauerCasey BauerMary DanielMary Daniel

William HunterWilliam HunterHannah McMahonHannah McMahon

John WallsJohn Walls

What is InfiniBand?What is InfiniBand?

InfiniBand ia a developing internet InfiniBand ia a developing internet technology that has the ability to solve technology that has the ability to solve limitation problem that come with today’s limitation problem that come with today’s I/O subsystems.I/O subsystems.

Creators of InfinbandCreators of Infinband The InfiniBand Trade Association was formed in The InfiniBand Trade Association was formed in

1999, by seven industry leaders:1999, by seven industry leaders: CompaqCompaq DellDell Hewlett-PackardHewlett-Packard IBMIBM IntelIntel MicrosoftMicrosoft Sun MicrosystemsSun Microsystems

Intel is currently working on its own type of Intel is currently working on its own type of InfiniBand technology through their InfiniBand technology through their interoperability labs.interoperability labs.

Reason for InfiniBandReason for InfiniBand

The goal of the seven members of the ITA The goal of the seven members of the ITA was to design an I/O subsystem to replace was to design an I/O subsystem to replace the limited sever machines of the shared the limited sever machines of the shared bus architecture.bus architecture.

What does it do?What does it do?

InfiniBand defines much higher link InfiniBand defines much higher link bandwidths than available using the bandwidths than available using the shared bus architecture.shared bus architecture.

How does it work?How does it work?

In its simplest configuration, two or more In its simplest configuration, two or more host devices, nodes, are connected host devices, nodes, are connected through the fabric by channel adaptors.through the fabric by channel adaptors.

More on how InfiniBand worksMore on how InfiniBand works

The channel adaptors may be either Host Channel The channel adaptors may be either Host Channel Adapters (HCAs) or Target Channel Adapters (TCAs).Adapters (HCAs) or Target Channel Adapters (TCAs).

A A switchswitch uses Local IDs (LIDs) to transfer packets from uses Local IDs (LIDs) to transfer packets from one source to the receiver.one source to the receiver.

RoutersRouters use globally unique identifiers (GIDs) to transfer use globally unique identifiers (GIDs) to transfer packets across domains.packets across domains.

Routers are used to form “larger multi-domain system Routers are used to form “larger multi-domain system area networks” by interconnecting two or more subnets.area networks” by interconnecting two or more subnets.

When each node, switch, and router are connected, it When each node, switch, and router are connected, it forms a point-to-point serial connection.forms a point-to-point serial connection.

Uses only four connections versus the wide parallel Uses only four connections versus the wide parallel connection of the PCI bus.connection of the PCI bus.

What does this mean?What does this mean? Less work is put on the bus and delays Less work is put on the bus and delays

due to heavy loading conditions are a due to heavy loading conditions are a thing of the past.thing of the past.

Much higher bandwidths are reached.Much higher bandwidths are reached. Shorter connections between hosts and Shorter connections between hosts and

I/O devices within InfiniBand Data Center.I/O devices within InfiniBand Data Center.

How InfiniBand ComparesHow InfiniBand Compares

The best internet technology has the The best internet technology has the transfer speed of around 500 megabytes transfer speed of around 500 megabytes per second.per second.

InfiniBand technology has the InfiniBand technology has the expectations of 6 gigabytes per second.expectations of 6 gigabytes per second.

What are the benefitsWhat are the benefits

Can provide round the clock availability of Can provide round the clock availability of data through its routine system.data through its routine system.

Enable data to be transferred at a much Enable data to be transferred at a much faster rate.faster rate.

Available storage can be partitioned Available storage can be partitioned around many servers to benefit security around many servers to benefit security and management tasks.and management tasks.

Low cost.Low cost.

Questions?Questions?