SPIDER: flexible and efficient communication support for point-to-point distributed systems

SPIDER is a network adapter that provides scalable communication support for point-to-point distributed systems. The device exports an efficient interface to the host processor, provides transparent support for dependable, time-constrained communication, and handles packet routing and switching. The communication support provided by SPIDER exploits concurrency between the independent data channels feeding the point-to-point network, and offers flexible and transparent hardware mechanisms. SPIDER allows the host to exercise fine-grain control over its operation, enabling the latter to monitor and influence data transmission and reception efficiently. In the current implementation, SPIDER interfaces to the Ironics IV-3207, a VMEbus-based 68040 card and will be controlled by x-kernel, a communication executive allowing the flexible composition of communication protocols