InfiniBand Network Architecture

Role of Switches and Routers

When a request packet is issued by a CA, there are two possibilities:

1. Source and destination CAs directly connected. Refer to Figure 1-6 on page 17. The destination CA may be directly connected to the CA issuing the request packet. In this simple case, the request packet is transmitted over a single link and is received by the destination CA port. The port decodes the packet's DLID address field, determines that it is the targeted port, accepts the request packet, and processes the request.

   Figure 1-6. Sample System Block Diagram

   

2. Source and destination CAs aren't directly connected. Refer to Figure 1-3 on page 13. The ...