What is GSN and can it be used for high-energy physics data acquisition?

In 1989, a completely new technology emerged for fast data transfer and networking using non-blocking full crossbar switches, called HIPPI. For high-energy physics this new technology brought a number of new possibilities not available before, such as fast data distribution and event building. Using HIPPI for data distribution over a number of workstations is very successfully demonstrated by the NA48 nexperiment. And now, almost 10 years after its introduction, the Compass experiment plans to do event building using a large HIPPI switch. Today a new standard, the Gigabyte System Network (GSN), is emerging for computer networking using fast, full-duplex connections with a total bandwidth of 12.8 Gbits/s. This paper describes the Gigabytes System Network, including the switch structure. Some examples will be given to show how this standard can be used for future high-energy physics data acquisition.