Embedded Systems Design Europe - May 2008 - (Page 25)

PCI Express data is updated, and sent via dual casting across the link. A separate process completion message is sent via the NT link to the back-up processor. In the event the backup processor doesn’t receive a process completion message within an expected timeout window, the backup is able to assume operation of the system. Minimal reinitialization is necessary because the data is available and duplicated for the second host. COMPUTING / IMAGING An additional avenue of performance enhancement is along the lines of GPU cluster-based computing. In these systems, a CPU manages the activities of several GPUs using specialized software for distributed computing. In computational applications such as medical imaging, seismic analysis, ﬂuid dynamics/dispersion, ﬁnancial analysis, and computational biology, GPU-based processing provides a signiﬁcant advantage in processing power, size and power consumption over standard CPU clusters. With PCI Express now the de facto interface for all high-performance GPU cards, dual casting provides another means of potentially improving performance in these applications. “Free bandwidth” may sound like a bold statement, but I believe that dual casting and, in particular, PLX’s Dual Cast greatly increases the value of PCI Express in many bandwidthdemanding applications, including graphics, storage, computing, communications and embedded systems. With the availability of PCI Express Gen 2 switches, embedded system designers using Dual Cast will continue to extend the performance and value of systems based on this powerful, versatile interconnect technology. Reggie Conley is director of applications engineering at PLX Technology, Sunnyvale, Calif. (www.plxtech.com). PLX specializes in PCIe switches and bridges; Dual Cast is a patented product from PLX. www.embedded.com/europe | embedded systems design europe | MAY 2008 25 http://www.plxtech.com http://www.dvsinc.com http://www.dvsinc.com http://www.embedded.com/europe

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Embedded Systems Design Europe - May 2008 Contents Microsoft Provides Embedded Roadmap Enea Buys Developers Irish Start-Up Raises Funds for Telecom FPGAs Kontron Promotes COM Express Nano Mentor Nucleus Platform Provides UI for Atmel Small Form Factor Boards Head for the SUMIT Proffibus Advances IO-Link Integration Embedded Developers Cautious on Multicore Auto Cooperation Improves Test Altera Launches DO-254 Partner Network Building an ‘Instant-Up’ Real-Time Operating Systems An Architecture for Reusable Embedded Systems Software Free up Bandwidth in PCI Express Evaluating Software in Medical Devices Circuit Sensitivity in Analog Circuits Choosing Flash Memory New Products Advertising Contacts

Embedded Systems Design Europe - May 2008

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