The MIMD systems researched were:
1. PowerXPlorer distributed memory system from Parsytec. This system runs the Parix operating system and is based on 8 PowerPC chips with transputers for communication links. The system is quite flexible in configuration.
2. Gigacube shared memory system from Microway. This system is based on the i860 and consists of 20 nodes
3. A multi-transputer system from Computer System Architects. This system has a great deal of flexibility in that parts of the network of transputers can be used by different users and the network topology can be configured dynamically rather than requiring re-wiring.
The PowerXplorer has the advantage that the individual processing nodes are very fast and the communication links are user programmable which could lend itself to some data communications projects. The Gigacube has the advantages that it contains more nodes and is a shared memory system. The Gigacube is based on the i860 that is a good graphics processor. The CSA transputer system has the advantages that more processors are available, the processors can be shared and reconfigured easily and that the students and faculty already have transputer experience.
After analysis of the above advantages it was decided the best choice for a MIMD system is the PowerXplorer because of its raw processing power, its well developed and stable PARIX operating system, and the ability for different users to share the processing power during code testing.
Therefore the requested equipment is: (Details and price quotations for the selected systems are found in the budget section.)
1. CNAPS Server II with 512 DSP style SIMD processors. There is 16 Mb of data storage memory. A 68030 processor with 4 Mb of memory controls the interface between a Sparc host and the Server II. Software provided includes a C compiler, a set of libraries, the CodeNet assembly language development system, the BuildNet neural network development system, and a third-party image processing library LNK_ImageLib. The system connects to a controlling host through an ethernet connection. The total price of this system is $56,300.
2. Parsytec PowerXPlorer distributed memory MIMD system. Each of the 8 processor nodes consists of an 80 MHz MPC601 and a 30 MHz T805 Transputer for communication. A C compiler is included. The system runs the PARIX operating system that allows for several systems to be used such as PVM, P4 and Linda. In addition, the system supports multiuser partitioning allowing multiple students to do development work simultaneously. The system is controlled by a Sparc host connected through an S bus card and costs $58,718.
3. Tatung model 2050B Sparc 20 system with 64 Mb of memory and 1 Gb of disk. This system will be used as the system controller via ethernet for the CNAPS system and the controlling system via S bus interface for the Parsytec system. This system was chosen based on the attractive price relative to an equivalent Sun system and the positive experience the department has had with current Tatung systems. The model chosen was selected because it has sufficient processing power and memory to support large host data sets and multiple simultaneous compiles. The cost of this system is $10,160.
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