Importance

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Abstract

A cluster system is provided in which Fiber Channel is used as an interconnection network and the number of nodes is small. In the cluster system, which includes first through fourth nodes and an interconnection network for connecting the nodes, each node is a processor of a parallel processing system. The interconnection network includes a first transfer loop for connecting the first, second and fourth nodes in a loop pattern; a second transfer loop for connecting the second, third and first nodes in a loop pattern; a third transfer loop for connecting the third, fourth and second nodes in a loop pattern; and a fourth transfer loop for connecting the fourth, first and the third nodes in a loop pattern. According to the invention, when the number of nodes supported by the interconnection network is small, the addition of extra nodes is more restricted than in an interconnection network according to previous technology, but the interconnection network can be constructed at small expense. In addition, the bandwidth of each node is large, delay time is short and error tolerance is large in the interconnection network according to the present invention. Finally, where a shared disk is employed, a large bandwidth is provided and time required for gaining access to the shared disk is short.

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First Claim