Question

List at least three topologies of multiprocessors and multicomputer interconnection networks

Answer 1

The three topologies of multiprocessors and multi-computer interconnection networks are:
* The bus topology: It is the simplest way to connect multiprocessor systems. This system consists of N processors, each with its own cache, connected by a shared bus. Using the local caches reduces the processor-memory traffic. All processors communicate with a single shared memory.

* The crossbar topology: A crossbar topology network overcomes the limitation of a single bus topology network of providing simultaneous connections among all its inputs and outputs compared to the single bus topology network which provides only a single connection. The crossbar has a Switching Element (SE) at the intersection of any two lines extended horizontally or vertically inside the switch.

* The MultiStage (MS) topology: Multistage interconnection networks (MINs) are to overcome some of the drawbacks of the single bus system keeping the cost affordable at the same time. It overcomes the most undesirable drawback of the availability of only one single path between the processors and the memory modules. MINs provide many simultaneous paths between the processors and the memory modules.

These three topologies are considered the main mechanisms in the dynamic networks interconnection scheme. The bus topology has a single bus or multiple buses topology. The crossbar and the multistage topologies are classified under switch-based topology.