Interconnect: the backbone that dictates overall performance
Supercomputing and AI systems designed for large language models can incorporate tens or hundreds of thousands of compute nodes. At the heart of these massive systems lies the interconnect, the backbone that dictates overall performance. For these systems to perform well, the interconnect must seamlessly scale alongside the high-end compute elements. This is where NET4EXA steps in: a project aimed at implementing the next generation of European interconnect technology, comprising both hardware (switches and network interfaces) and matching software. The solution’s capabilities will be proven through a fully operational pilot system.
Building on the success of BXI, Europe’s production-proven interconnect, NET4EXA leverages the enhancements developed in the RED-SEA project and draws on a strong network of EU-funded collaborations within the HPC ecosystem.
Our 4 objectives
Performance
- Improved peak throughput
- Low latency
- Quality of Service (QoS)
- Enhanced offloading capabilities (RDMA)
- TCP/IP v4 native support for interoperability
- Improved CPU/GPU communication
Scalability
- Large network sizes
- Congestion management and adaptavie routing
- Load spreading & traffic balancing
- Energy efficiency
- Reliability
Usability
- Implementation of industry-wide standards (UltraEthernet, PCIe, Portals
- Rich software ecosystem
- Advanced security features
Commerciality
- Demonstrated via use cases on a pilot testbed
- Widely applicable: HPC, AI, datacentres
- Roadmap to the future
Consortium
The project is powered by a cohesive consortium of eight partners, each bringing unique expertise. By striking a balance between industry and academia, NET4EXA ensures that cutting-edge R&D from Europe’s top institutions is integrated into the BXI portfolio. This synergy not only builds a robust technical ecosystem and helps cover diverse use cases, but also paves the way for the BXI technology to enter the market competitively and cost-effectively, with scientifically validated performance.
France
Coordinator, leader of work package 1: Architecture, and post-exascale preparation
France
Technical coordinator, leader of work packages 3 (Fabric management & scalability), 6 (IP management, exploitation & communication) & 7 (Project management)
Norway
Leader of work package 2: Communication performance and offload
Greece
Leader of work package 4: HPC and AI software ecosystem
Italy
Leader of work package 5: Integration, pilot, evaluation
Italy
Affiliated entity of CINECA
Italy
Affiliated entity of CINECA
Italy
Affiliated entity of CINECA
Factsheet
| Project name | NETwork for European EXAscale Systems |
| Project acronym | NET4EXA |
| Project type | HORIZON JU Innovation Actions |
| Project start | 01/09/2024 |
| Project end | 28/02/2027 (30 months) |
| Call | HORIZON-EUROHPC-JU-2023-INTER-02 |
| Grant agreement | 101175702 |
| Total budget | 71 M€ |