FAST BOOTING OF PLEX ARRAY

A method for fast booting an operation system on multiple processors coupled in multi-dimensional array architecture with higher efficiency and reliability. A particular PLEX™ node, which is designated as a primary boot master node, receives a sequence of data packets containing a boot image program to be used to boot the operating system. It first forwards a copy of each data packet to various selected neighboring nodes to which the primary boot master node is directly connected. The nodes that have received the data packets from the primary boot master node further forward the data packets to various other selected nodes, until all the PLEX™ nodes have succeeded in loading the entire boot image program. Three schemes are developed, which improve booting efficiency by allowing all PLEX™ nodes to receive the operating system as close to simultaneously as possible under certain constraints of the way that the PLEX™ nodes are interconnected.