A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the
Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Science in EngineeringThe MC2/64 system is a configureable multi-user transputer- based system which was
designed using a modular approach. The MC2/64 consists of MC2 Clusters which are
connected using a modified Clos network. The MC2 Clusters were designed and
realised as completely configurable modules using and extending an algorithm based on
Eulerian cycles through a requested graph. This dissertation discusses the configuration
algorithm and the extensions made to the algorithm for the MC2 Clusters.
The total MC2/64 system is not completely configurable as a MC2 Cluster releases only
a limited number of links for inter-cluster connections. This dissertation analyses the
configurability of MC2/64, but also presents algorithms which enhance the usability of
the system from the user's point of view.
The design and the implementation of the network control software are also submitted
as topics in this dissertation. The network control software must allow multiple users to
use the system, but without them influencing each other's transputer domains.
This dissertation therefore seeks to give an overview of network control problems and
the solutions implemented in current MC2/64 systems. The results of the research
done for this dissertation will hopefully aid in the design of future MC2 systems which
will provide South Africa with much needed, low cost, high performance computing
power.Andrew Chakane 201
