The Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) is an IEEE standard (1596-1992) that defines a high-speed, scalable, bus-like interconnect that connects nodes, processors, memories, peripheral devices, commodity workstations or PCs in a high-performance parallel system.
SCI Europe has developed two basic technology items: The LINK CONTROLLER 3 (LC3) (from Dolphin ICS, the third-generation SCI-link interface chip), and the PAROLI module (from Infineon for parallel optical communication). These have each been specified, designed, fabricated, tested and rendered market-ready, enabling all SCI systems to achieve an improved and an even better performance. Instruments, software and simulation models have also been developed for testing and for performance evaluation.
The components developed have been used to design two full-blown applications of significant value which use these technologies. Developed by Siemens, the first of these applications has demonstrated a cost-effective, high-performance, and highly scalable Video-on-Demand system. This system offers increased scalability and at a much lower cost than existing solutions based on MPP (Massively Parallel Processing) clusters and represents a new competitive edge for this market. Thomson-CSF Detexis has developed a second application within modular avionics.
Project URL: http://www.oslo.sintef.no/ecy/projects/SCI_Europe/index_net.html