The Parallel Protocol Engine

The design and implementation of a multiprocessor-based communication subsystem called the Parallel Protocol Engine (PPE), for the parallel and pipelined execution of protocols, are described. As an example, an implementation of the ISO 8802-2.2 logical link control on a four-processor version of the PPE is presented and analyzed. The performance of the implementation is more than 16,000 type-2 information protocol data units/s, commensurate with emerging high-speed networks that operate in the 100-Mb/s range. The overall end-to-end performance of an integrated system, where two workstations, each equipped with a PPE, communicate over a high-speed link, is analyzed and the problems concerning the soft- and hardware interface to the PPE are presented.<
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