Multicast snooping: A new coherence method using a multicast address network

Journal Article (Journal Article)

This paper proposes a new coherence method called `multicast snooping' that dynamically adapts between broadcast snooping and a directory protocol. Multicast snooping is unique because processors predict which caches should snoop each coherence transaction by specifying a multicast `mask.' Transactions are delivered with an ordered multicast network, such as an Isotach network, which eliminates the need for acknowledgment messages. Processors handle transactions as they would with a snooping protocol, while a simplified directory operates in parallel to check masks and gracefully handle incorrect ones (e.g., previous owner missing). Preliminary performance numbers with mostly SPLASH-2 benchmarks running on 32 processors show that we can limit multicasts to an average of 2-6 destinations (≪32) and we can deliver 2-5 multicasts per network cycle (≫broadcast snooping's 1 per cycle). While these results do not include timing, they do provide encouragement that multicast snooping can obtain data directly (like broadcast snooping) but apply to larger systems (like directories).

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Bilir, EE; Dickson, RM; Hu, Y; Plakal, M; Sorin, DJ; Hill, MD; Wood, DA

Published Date

  • January 1, 1999

Published In

Start / End Page

  • 294 - 304

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0884-7495

Citation Source

  • Scopus