Networked computer with multiple embedded rings

A method of generating a set of programs to be executed in parallel on a computer comprising a plurality of processing nodes, wherein the plurality of processing nodes are arranged in a configuration of multiple stacked layers which comprise a first endmost layer and a second endmost layer and at least one intermediate layer forming a multi-face prism;

• wherein each face of the multi-face prism comprises multiple stacked pairs of processing nodes, wherein the processing nodes of each pair are connected to each other by at least two interlayer links, and the processing node of each pair is connected to a corresponding processing node in an adjacent pair by at least one interlayer link wherein the corresponding processing nodes of the first endmost layer, the at least one intermediate layer and the second endmost layer are connected by respective interlayer links to form respective edges of the configuration;
• and
• wherein each pair of processing nodes forms part of one of the layers of the configuration, each layer comprising multiple processing nodes, each processing node connected to their neighbouring processing nodes in the layer by at least one of the intralayer links to form a ring;
• wherein method comprises:
• generating at least one data transmission instruction for each program to define a data transmission stage in which data is transmitted from the processing node executing that program, wherein the data transmission instruction comprises a link identifier which defines an outgoing link on which data is to be transmitted in that data transmission stage;
• and
• determining the link identifiers in order to transmit data around each of a plurality of one dimensional paths formed by respective sets of processing nodes and links, each one dimensional path having a first portion between the first endmost layer and the second endmost layer via the at least one intermediate layer using all processing nodes in one of the faces of the configuration only once, and a second portion provided between the second endmost layer and the first endmost layer and comprising one of the edges of the configuration.

A method of executing a set of programs in parallel on a computer comprising a plurality of processing nodes, wherein the plurality of processing nodes are arranged in a configuration of multiple stacked layers which comprise a first endmost layer and a second endmost layer and at least one intermediate layer forming a multi-face prism;

• wherein each face of the multi-face prism comprises multiple stacked pairs of processing nodes, wherein the processing nodes of each pair are connected to each other by at least two intralayer links, and the processing node of each pair is connected to a corresponding processing node in an adjacent pair by at least one interlayer link wherein the corresponding processing nodes of the first endmost layer, the at least one intermediate layer and the second endmost layer are connected by respective interlayer links to form respective edges of the configuration;
• and
• wherein each pair of processing nodes forms part of one of the layers of the configuration, each layer comprising multiple processing nodes, each processing node connected to their neighbouring processing nodes in the layer by at least one of the intralayer links to form a ring;
• wherein the method comprises:
• executing at least one data transmission instruction in each program to define a data transmission stage in which data is transmitted from the processing node executing that program, wherein the data transmission instruction comprises a link identifier which defines an outgoing link on which data is to be transmitted in that data transmission stage;
• the link identifiers having been determined in order to transmit data around each of a plurality of one dimensional paths formed by respective sets of processing nodes and links, each one dimensional path having a first portion between the first endmost layer and the second endmost layer via the at least one intermediate layer using all processing nodes in one of the faces of the configuration only once, and a second portion provided between the second endmost layer and the first endmost layer and comprising one of the edges of the configuration.