Difference between revisions of "Computer Interconnect"
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| − | The '''Computer Interconnect''' (usually given as the acronym, '''CI''') is high-speed [[packet]]ized [[data network]]ing system from [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]]; basically a fairly short-range [[local area network|LAN]]. | + | The '''Computer Interconnect''' (usually given as the acronym, '''CI''') is a high-speed [[packet]]ized [[data network]]ing system from [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]]; basically a fairly short-range [[local area network|LAN]]; it was the first element of DEC's [[System Communication Architecture]] to be implemented. |
It consists of uni-directional point-point links, all running between an interface on each [[host]] (called 'nodes' in the CI system) and a 'coupler'. The network's physical topology is thus a star (an approach pioneered by [[MIT Laboratory for Computer Science|LCS]]'s [[Version 1 ring]]), but electrically and logically, it is a linear bus, like the [[Ethernet]]. It too uses [[Carrier-Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection|CSMA]] for access control to the shared transmission medium, but different in detail from that of the Ethernet. | It consists of uni-directional point-point links, all running between an interface on each [[host]] (called 'nodes' in the CI system) and a 'coupler'. The network's physical topology is thus a star (an approach pioneered by [[MIT Laboratory for Computer Science|LCS]]'s [[Version 1 ring]]), but electrically and logically, it is a linear bus, like the [[Ethernet]]. It too uses [[Carrier-Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection|CSMA]] for access control to the shared transmission medium, but different in detail from that of the Ethernet. | ||
| − | In addition to processors (mostly [[VAX]]en, although there was | + | In addition to processors (mostly [[VAX]]en, although there was the [[CI20 Computer Interconnect]] for the [[KL10]]), intelligent [[mass storage]] [[device controller|controllers]] (such as the [[HSC50 Hierarchical Storage Controller|HSC50]]) could be connected to a CI network; this was a key role in the widely-deployed [[VAXcluster]]. [[Acknowledgement]]s are provided by the [[hardware]]; if one is not received, a [[retransmission]] can be performed. |
Node [[address]]es are 8 bits; so the [[address space]] could hold up to 256 nodes. The initial coupler (the [[SC008 Star Coupler]]) - a passive one - supported up to 16 links. All CI links are duplicated, for robustness. (Later versions used them separately, to double the capacity.) Thus, each host has 4 links to it; two transmit, and two receive. | Node [[address]]es are 8 bits; so the [[address space]] could hold up to 256 nodes. The initial coupler (the [[SC008 Star Coupler]]) - a passive one - supported up to 16 links. All CI links are duplicated, for robustness. (Later versions used them separately, to double the capacity.) Thus, each host has 4 links to it; two transmit, and two receive. | ||
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* [[CISCE CI Star Coupler Extension]] 16 Nodes max. | * [[CISCE CI Star Coupler Extension]] 16 Nodes max. | ||
* [[CI20 Computer Interconnect|CI20 KL10 CI Interface]] | * [[CI20 Computer Interconnect|CI20 KL10 CI Interface]] | ||
| − | * [[CI780 Computer Interconnect | + | * [[CI780 Computer Interconnect Adapter|CI780 VAX-11/780 CI Interface]] |
* [[CI750 Computer Interconnect Interface|CI750 VAX-11/750 CI Interface]] | * [[CI750 Computer Interconnect Interface|CI750 VAX-11/750 CI Interface]] | ||
| − | * [[CIBCI]] - [[VAX Bus Interconnect|VAXBI]] CI Interface, 1st generation | + | * [[CIBCI Computer Interconnect Adapter|CIBCI]] - [[VAX Bus Interconnect|VAXBI]] CI Interface, 1st generation |
* [[CIBCA-A]] - VAXBI CI Interface, 2nd generation | * [[CIBCA-A]] - VAXBI CI Interface, 2nd generation | ||
* [[CIBCA-B]] - VAXBI CI Interface, 3rd generation | * [[CIBCA-B]] - VAXBI CI Interface, 3rd generation | ||
| Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
* [[CIQBA]] - [[QBUS]] CI Interface | * [[CIQBA]] - [[QBUS]] CI Interface | ||
* [[CIPCA]] - [[Peripheral Component Interconnect|PCI]] CI Interface | * [[CIPCA]] - [[Peripheral Component Interconnect|PCI]] CI Interface | ||
| + | * [[DEC CI Hierarchical Storage Controllers]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Further reading== | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/handbook/VAX_Hardware_Handbook_Volume_1_1986.pdf VAX Hardware Handbook Volume 1] (EB-25949-46) - covers the Computer Interconnect in Chapter 11, pp. 11-76—11-91 (pp. 503-520 of the PDF) | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| Line 32: | Line 37: | ||
[[Category: DEC Networking]] | [[Category: DEC Networking]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Computer Interconnect]] | ||
| + | [[Category: DEC Interface Standards]] | ||
Latest revision as of 17:11, 3 June 2024
The Computer Interconnect (usually given as the acronym, CI) is a high-speed packetized data networking system from DEC; basically a fairly short-range LAN; it was the first element of DEC's System Communication Architecture to be implemented.
It consists of uni-directional point-point links, all running between an interface on each host (called 'nodes' in the CI system) and a 'coupler'. The network's physical topology is thus a star (an approach pioneered by LCS's Version 1 ring), but electrically and logically, it is a linear bus, like the Ethernet. It too uses CSMA for access control to the shared transmission medium, but different in detail from that of the Ethernet.
In addition to processors (mostly VAXen, although there was the CI20 Computer Interconnect for the KL10), intelligent mass storage controllers (such as the HSC50) could be connected to a CI network; this was a key role in the widely-deployed VAXcluster. Acknowledgements are provided by the hardware; if one is not received, a retransmission can be performed.
Node addresses are 8 bits; so the address space could hold up to 256 nodes. The initial coupler (the SC008 Star Coupler) - a passive one - supported up to 16 links. All CI links are duplicated, for robustness. (Later versions used them separately, to double the capacity.) Thus, each host has 4 links to it; two transmit, and two receive.
The links are coaxial cables. Data speeds were 70 megabits per second; link lengths could be up to 45 meters. At the analog level, it used Manchester encoding, on baseband signaling.
See also
- SC004 Star Coupler 4 Nodes max.
- SC008 Star Coupler 8 Nodes max.
- CISCE CI Star Coupler Extension 16 Nodes max.
- CI20 KL10 CI Interface
- CI780 VAX-11/780 CI Interface
- CI750 VAX-11/750 CI Interface
- CIBCI - VAXBI CI Interface, 1st generation
- CIBCA-A - VAXBI CI Interface, 2nd generation
- CIBCA-B - VAXBI CI Interface, 3rd generation
- CIXCD - XMI CI Interface
- CITCA - TURBOchannel CI Interface
- CIQBA - QBUS CI Interface
- CIPCA - PCI CI Interface
- DEC CI Hierarchical Storage Controllers
Further reading
- VAX Hardware Handbook Volume 1 (EB-25949-46) - covers the Computer Interconnect in Chapter 11, pp. 11-76—11-91 (pp. 503-520 of the PDF)
External links
- CI - CI documentation at Bitsavers
- VAXclusters: A Closely-Coupled Distributed System - paper on VAXclusters which describes the CI in some detail
