A multiprocessor computer system to selectively transmit address transactions
using
a broadcast mode or a point-to-point mode. Either a directory-based coherency protocol
or a broadcast snooping coherency protocol is implemented to maintain coherency.
A node is formed by a group of clients which share a common address and data network.
The address network determines whether a transaction is conveyed in broadcast mode
or point-to-point mode. The address network includes a table with entries which
indicate transmission modes corresponding to different regions of the address space
within the node. Upon receiving a coherence request transaction, the address network
may access the table to determine the transmission mode which corresponds to the
received transaction. Network congestion may be monitored and transmission modes
adjusted accordingly. When network utilization is high, the number of transactions
which are broadcast may be reduced. Alternatively, when network utilization is
low, the number of broadcasts may be increased.