Author_Institution :
Syst. & Technol., IBM, Hopewell Junction, NY, USA
Abstract :
As clustered servers and high-performance computing systems have gotten larger, more powerful, and more dependent on high-performance interconnect, the advantages of optics have grown steadily more compelling. However, there are still many challenging (i.e., interesting) questions to be answered regarding exactly what types of optics technologies will be most useful, and how they´ll be integrated into system designs. Such questions (e.g., VCSELs vs. silicon photonics, multi-mode vs. single-mode, electrical vs. optical switching,...) affect the most basic aspects of optics research and development. This talk will review some of the most advanced current optics deployments in the Power7-775/PERCS “Data Center in a Rack” system, and other high-performance clustered computing systems. It will also review, from the perspective of a computer system designer, how trends in various optical technologies will scale into the Exascale time-frame vs. trends in other technological components of large-scale system design.
Keywords :
computer centres; integrated optoelectronics; network servers; optical computing; optical design techniques; optical interconnections; workstation clusters; Power7-775/PERCS; clustered servers; computer system designer; data center in a rack; exascale time-frame; high-performance clustered computing systems; high-performance interconnect; optical technologies; research and development; supercomputing; Biomedical optical imaging; Market research; Optical design; Optical fibers; Servers;
