The Enhanced Segment Interconnect for FASTBUS Data Communications Status Report

The Enhanced Segment Interconnect concept (ESI) for improved FASTBUS data communications is a development supported by the U. S. Department of Energy under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The ESI will contain both the Segment Interconnect (SI) Type S-1 and an optional buffered interconnect for store-and-forward data communications; fiber-optic-coupled serial ports will provide optional data paths. The ESI can be applied in large FASTBUS-implemented physics experiments whose data-set or datatransmission distance requirements dictate alternate approaches to data communications. This paper describes the functions of the ESI and the status of its development, now 25% complete.