Abstract
With the rise of fast interconnection technologies and new concepts to utilize them without operating system interaction (like VIA [4]), compute clusters are becoming increasingly commonplace. Most of the interconnection networks focus only on message passing as their prime programming model neglecting the large code basis for shared memory. However, by utilizing the Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) [19] with its ability to transparently perform remote memory operations, it is possible to support both efficient message passing and transparent shared memory on one single platform. This introduces a previously unknown flexibility into the cluster architecture.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amza, C., Cox, A., Dwarkadas, S., Keleher, P., Lu, H., Rajamony, R., Yu, W., Zwaenepoel, W.: TreadMarks: Shared Memory Computing on Networks of Workstations. IEEE Computer (February 1995)
Basu, A., Buch, V., Vogels, W., von Eicken, T.: U-Net: A User-Level Network Interface for Parallel and Distributed Computing. In: Proc. of the 15th ACM Symposium on Operating Systems Principles, Copper Mountain, Colorado, ACM Press, New York (1995)
Blumrich, M.A., Li, K., Alpert, R., Dubnicki, C., Felten, E.W., Sandberg, J.: Virtual Memory Mapped Network Interface for the SHRIMP Multicomputer. In: Proceedings of the 21st ISCA, Chicago, Illinois. CAN, vol. 22, pp. 142–153. ACM, New York (1994)
Compaq Computer Corp. and Intel Corporation and Microsoft Corporation. Virtual Interface Architecture Specification (December 1997), Available with NDA via www.viarch.org
Culler, D., Liu, L.T., Martin, R.P., Yoshikawa, C.O.: Assessing Fast Network Interfaces. IEEE MICRO 16(1), 35–43 (1996)
Dolphin Interconnect Solutions, AS. PCI–SCI Cluster Adapter Specification (May 1996), Version 1.2
Geist, A., Beguelin, A., Dongarra, J., Jiang, W., Manchek, R., Sunderam, V.: PVM: Parallel Virtual Machine A Users’ Guide and Tutorial for Networked Parallel Computing. MIT Press, Cambridge (1994)
Gillett, R.B.: Memory Channel Network for PCI. IEEE Micro 16(1), 12–18 (1996)
Hellwagner, H., Karl, W., Leberecht, M.: Fast Communication Mechanisms–Coupling Hardware Distributed Shared Memory and User-Level Messaging. In: Proceedings of PDPTA 1997, Las Vegas, Nevada, June 30–July 3 (1997)
Herland, B.G., Eberl, M., Hellwagner, H.: A Common Messaging Layer for MPI and PVM over SCI. In: Bubak, M., Hertzberger, B., Sloot, P.M.A. (eds.) HPCN-Europe 1998. LNCS, vol. 1401, pp. 576–587. Springer, Heidelberg (1998)
Ibel, M., Schauser, K., Scheiman, C., Weis, M.: High-Performance Cluster Computing Using SCI. In: Hot Interconnects V (August 1997)
Itzkovitz, A., Schuster, A., Shalev, L.: Millipede: a User-Level NT-Based Distributed Shared Memory System with Thread Migration and Dynamic Run-Time Optimization of Memory References. In: Proceedings of the 1st USENIX Windows NT Workshop (August 1997)
Koch, P., Cecchet, E., de Pina, X.: Global Management of Coherent Shared Memory on an SCI Cluster. In: Proceedings of SCI-Europe 1998, a conference stream of EMMSEC 1998, September 1998, pp. 51–57 (1998)
Leffler, S.J., McKusick, M.K., Karels, M.J., Quarterman, J.S.: The Design and Implementation of the 4.3BSD UNIX Operating System. Addison-Wesley, Reading (1989)
Mainwaring, A., Culler, D.: Active Messages Applications Programming Interface and Communication Subsystem Organization. Technical report, Computer Science Division, University of California at Berkeley (November 1995)
Paas, S., Dormanns, M., Bemmerl, T., Scholtyssik, K., Lankes, S.: Computing on a Cluster of PCs: Project Overview and Early Experiences. In: Rehm, W. (ed.) Tagungsband zum 1. Workshop Cluster Computing, number CSR-97-05 in Chemnitzer Informatik–Berichte, November 1997, pp. 217–229 (1997)
Pakin, S., Karamcheti, V., Chien, A.: Fast Messages (FM): Efficient, Portable Communication for Workstation Clusters and Massively-Parallel Processors. IEEE Concurrency (1997)
Schulz, M., Hellwagner, H.: Global Virtual Memory based on SCI-DSM. In: Proceedings of SCI-Europe 1998, a conference stream of EMMSEC 1998, September 1998, pp. 59–67 (1998)
Society, I.C.: IEEE Std 1596–1992: IEEE Standard for Scalable Coherent Interface. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., 345 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017, USA (August 1993)
Speight, E., Bennett, J.: Brazos: A Third Generation DSM System. In: Proceedings of the 1st USENIX Windows NT Workshop (August 1997)
Stets, R., Dwarkadas, S., Hardavellas, N., Hunt, G., Kontothanassis, L., Parthasarathy, S., Scott, M.: CASHMERE-2L: Software Coherent Shared Memory on a Clustered Remote-Write Network. In: Proceedings of SOSP 1997 (October 1997)
von Eicken, T., Culler, D.E., Goldstein, S.C., Schauser, K.E.: Active Messages: a Mechanism for Integrated Communication and Computation. In: Proceedings of the 19th ISCA, Gold Cost, Australia. CAN, vol. 20, pp. 256–266. ACM Press, New York (1992)
Weidendorfer, J.: Entwurf und Implementierung einer Socket-Bibliothek für ein SCI-Netzwerk. Master’s thesis, Technische Universität München (1997)
WWW: CRAY T3E Series (November 1998), http://www.cray.com/products/systems/crayt3e/
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1999 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Karl, W., Leberecht, M., Schulz, M. (1999). Supporting Shared Memory and Message Passing on Clusters of PCs with a SMiLE. In: Sivasubramaniam, A., Lauria, M. (eds) Network-Based Parallel Computing. Communication, Architecture, and Applications. CANPC 1999. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 1602. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/10704826_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/10704826_14
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-65915-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-48869-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive