Compaq ProLiant 1500 Virtual Interface (VI) Architecture - The New Open Standa - Page 1
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White Paper September 1998 ECG098/0998 Prepared by Industry Standard Server Division Compaq Computer Corporation Contents Concept Overview 3 VI Architecture Implementation 4 Key Components 5 Customer Benefits Utilizing VI Architecture 6 Advantages of VI Applications 6 Conclusion 7 For More Information 7 Virtual Interface (VI) Architecture - The New Open Standard for Distributed Messaging Within a Cluster This paper will discuss the VI Architecture concept, its key components, its benefits, its relationship to the SAN, how Compaq envisions utilizing VI Architecture, and where VI Architecture is headed in the industry standards community. Abstract: As business and technology requirements drive Intel-based servers to become clustered, a need for a high-speed, low latency communications service will be a requirement. This requirement for highspeed communication is further exacerbated as clusters grow from the current 2 node cluster to multi-node clusters which can approach 16 - 32 nodes in some currently proposed configurations. This service should not be encumbered by traditional multi-point protocols such as TCP/IP. With these requirements in mind, Compaq has taken a leadership role in creating and defining the Virtual Interface (VI) Architecture. VI is a distributed messaging technology that has been authored by Compaq, Intel, and Microsoft. The specification, published December 16, 1997, provides an open architecture promoting clustered computing with a transport layer and Application Programming Interface (API) which can be utilized by software and hardware vendors to provide high-speed and low latency communications between servers in clustered server and storage configurations. This concept is called a System Area Network (SAN). VI Architecture is designed to be hardware independent and compatible with current network interconnects such as ServerNet, Ethernet, and ATM. This ability to rely on existing communications adapters and media will help migrate existing protocols to VI Architecture. Since VI Architecture is also processor independent, it will allow the architecture to be implemented into silicon, therefore further improving communication performance. Compaq will develop clusters of ProLiant Servers and/or NT Workstations to demonstrate its ability to perform in the high end of the enterprise market space. Compaq's initiative in developing and setting standards such as VI Architecture, in partnership with Intel and Microsoft, further strengthens its presence in the IT marketplace as a high-volume, low-cost supplier of quality x86 servers and workstations for enterprise level solutions.