Skip to main content

Experiments in mimd parallelism

  • Invited Lectures
  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
PARLE '89 Parallel Architectures and Languages Europe (PARLE 1989)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 366))

Abstract

The paper reviews the problems inhibiting the widespread use of parallel processing by both industry and by software houses. The two key issues of portability of code and of generality of parallel architectures are discussed. An overview of useful computational models and programming paradigms for parallel machines is presented along with some detailed case studies implemented on transputer arrays. Valiant's results on optimally universal parallel machines are reviewed along with the prospects of building truly general-purpose parallel computers. Some remarks on language and software tool developments for parallel programming form the conclusion to the paper.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. G.C. Fox et al., "Solving problems on concurrent processors", Prentice Hall 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  2. A.J.G. Hey and D.J. Pritchard, "Parallel Applications on the RTP Supernode machine", invited paper published in the the proceedings of "3rd International Conference on Supercomputing". L.P. Kartshev and S.I. Kartashev, Vol II, 264, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  3. J. Backus, "Can programming be liberated from the Von Neumann Style? A functional style and its algebra of programs", Comm. of the ACM 21, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  4. H.T. Kung, "Computational models for parallel computers", article in "Scientific applications of multiprocessors", edited by R.J. Elliott and C.A.R. Hoare, Prentice Hall 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  5. D.J. Pritchard et al., "Practical parallelism using transputer arrays", Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 258, 278 Springer-Verlag (1987), ed. J.W. de Bakker, A.J. Nijman & P.C. Treleaven.

    Google Scholar 

  6. W.D. Hillis, "The Connection Machine", MIT Press 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  7. P. Henderson et al., "Declarative harnesses for imperative programming of parallel machines", Southampton Internal Report (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  8. S.W. Otto, "Shared store vs Message passing — Halftime score", invited talk at the 1989 Oxford conference on "Computing in High Energy Physics", to be published in the proceedings.

    Google Scholar 

  9. D.J. Pritchard, "Mathematical models of distributed computation", in "Parallel Programming of Transputer Board Machines" (7th Occam User Group technical meeting), ed. T. Muntean (IOS, 1988).

    Google Scholar 

  10. A. Hislop, Southampton Report 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  11. C.R. Askew, Southampton Ph.D Thesis 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  12. M. Surridge, Southampton Report 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  13. D.J. Pritchard and M. Surridge, in preparation.

    Google Scholar 

  14. M.J. Gorrod, M.J. Coe and M. Yearworth, "Parallel processing of Monte Carlo simulations using a transputer array", Southampton Report 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  15. J.M. Carter, M.G. Green and T. Medcalf, "Transparent use of transputers for off-line computation", Royal Holloway and Bedford New College Report 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  16. S. Booth et al., "Harnesses for running HEP Fortran programs on the Meiko Computing Surface", CERN Report 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  17. P.M. Flanders, "The effective use of SIMD processor arrays", published in proceedings of the IEE specialist seminar "The design and application of parallel digital processors", Lisbon 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  18. R. Hempel, "The Suprenum communications subroutine library for grid-oriented problems", Argonne National Laboratory Report ANL-87-23 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  19. D.B. Carpenter and J.H. Merlin, Southampton Report 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  20. J. Allwright, Southampton Report 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  21. S. Lin and B.W. Kernighan, "An effective heuristic algorithm for the Travelling Salesman Problem", Operational Research 21, 498, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  22. D. McBurney and M.R. Sleep, "Transputers + Virtual Tree Kernel = Real Speedups", invited paper published in the proceedings of the third conference on Hypercube Concurrent Computers and Applications, Vol. 1, 128, 1988, edited by G.C. Fox.

    Google Scholar 

  23. F.W. Burton and M.R. Sleep, "Executing functional programs on a virtual tree of processors", Published in the proceedings of the conference on Functional Programming Languages and Computer Architecture, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  24. G.C. Fox et al., Parallel Computing, 4, 17, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  25. P.D. Coddington, Southampton Report 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  26. L.G. Valiant, "Optimally universal parallel computers", article in "Scientific Applications of Multiprocessors", edited by R.J. Elliott and C.A.R. Hoare (Prentice Hall 1989).

    Google Scholar 

  27. D. May, "Towards general-purpose parallel computers", invited talk in Syracuse, March 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  28. J.R. McGraw and T.S. Axelrod, "Exploiting Multiprocessors: Issues and Options", article in "Programming Parallel Processors" edited by R.G. Babb, Addison-Wesley 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  29. D. May and C.A.R. Hoare, "Superoccam", unpublished note 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  30. E.A.M. Odijk, "The DOOM System and its applications", Lecture Notes in Computer Science, edited by G. Goos and J. Hartmanis, 259, 461, 1987, Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  31. E.W. Felten and S.W. Otto, "Chess on a hypercube", invited paper published in the proceedings of the third conference on Hypercube Concurrent Computers and Applications, edited by G.C. Fox, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Eddy Odijk Martin Rem Jean-Claude Syre

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1989 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Hey, A.J.G. (1989). Experiments in mimd parallelism. In: Odijk, E., Rem, M., Syre, JC. (eds) PARLE '89 Parallel Architectures and Languages Europe. PARLE 1989. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 366. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-51285-3_31

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-51285-3_31

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-51285-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-46184-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics