The FNN (Flat Neighborhood Network) paradox

[Bogdan Costescu]

On Thu, 22 Feb 2001, Georgia Southern Beowulf Cluster Project wrote:

> 3. M2 loads the channel-bonding module (all NICS are on different switches)
> and sends a reply over the AFN to M1 that it is ready for transmission.

Loading a module is not an instant operation. You can send lots of normal
(i.e. on a single link) traffic before the module becomes operational. If
your software is sensitive to latency (apart from being sensitive to
bandwidth which is the reason why you would use bonding), you loose.
But if you're doing something coarse-grained (like image rendering), it
might fit well.

Sincerely,

Bogdan Costescu

IWR - Interdisziplinaeres Zentrum fuer Wissenschaftliches Rechnen
Universitaet Heidelberg, INF 368, D-69120 Heidelberg, GERMANY
Telephone: +49 6221 54 8869, Telefax: +49 6221 54 8868
E-mail: Bogdan.Costescu at IWR.Uni-Heidelberg.De