Beyond PVM 3.4: What we’ve learned, what’s next, and why

G. A. Geist, J. A. Kohl, P. M. Papadopoulos, S. L. Scott

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper explores the foundations and philosophy that have made PVM both effective and widespread: a simple system abstraction and API, transparent heterogeneity, and dynamic system configuration. From a high-performance programming point of view, we examine the features that make PVM useful and those that make hardware-level performance difficult to achieve. The key conclusion from this analysis is that PVM, MPI, and similar paradigms suffer from a monolithic approach to the distributed computing problem. The approaches simply cannot meet the large range of service requirements for advanced distributed computing environments. The notion of a Generalized Plug- In Machine (GPM) is introduced that allows programs to exert better control over their operating environment. This environment has the potential to provide mechanisms for better performance, richer system dynamics, and fault-tolerance. Pluggable components, such as messaging substrates, dynamically-attached debugging agents, or complete virtual machines that can be joined together, form an operating environment that can be customized on-the-fly. Generalizations of current PVM plugins (resource managers, hosters, taskers) that lead to this next-generation environment are discussed, and inherent challenges, such as eliminating the master PVM daemon and providing the pluggable substrate, are examined.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationRecent Advances in Parallel Virtual Machine and Message Passing Interface - 4th European PVM/MPI Users Group Meeting, Proceedings
EditorsMarian Bubak, Jack Dongarra, Jerzy Wasniewśki
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages116-126
Number of pages11
ISBN (Print)3540636978, 9783540636977
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997
Event4th European Conference on Parallel Virtual Machine and Message Passing Interface, PVM/MPI 1997 - Cracow, Poland
Duration: Nov 3 1997Nov 5 1997

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume1332
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference4th European Conference on Parallel Virtual Machine and Message Passing Interface, PVM/MPI 1997
Country/TerritoryPoland
CityCracow
Period11/3/9711/5/97

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Beyond PVM 3.4: What we’ve learned, what’s next, and why'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this