Application Performance of a Linux Cluster Using Converse

Abstract. Clusters of PCs are an attractive platform for parallel applications because of their cost effectiveness. We have implemented an interoperable runtime system called Converse on a cluster of Linux PCs connected by an inexpensive switched Fast Ethernet. This paper presents our implementation and its performance evaluation. We consider the question of the performance impact of using inexpensive communication hardware on real applications, using a large production-quality molecular dynamics program, NAMD, that runs on this cluster.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1999
• Where: IPPS
• Authors: Laxmikant V. Kalé, Robert Brunner, James C. Phillips, Krishnan Varadarajan
• Keywords: Attractive Platform, Distributed And Parallel Computing, Inexpensive Communication Hardware, IPPS 1999, Production-quality Molecular Dynamics