An Analysis of Distributed Computing Software and Hardware for Applications in Computational Physics

We have implemented a set of computational physics codes on a network of IBM RS/6000 workstations used as a distributed parallel computer. We compare the performance of the codes on this network, using both standard Ethernet connections and a fast prototype switch, and also on the nCUBE/2, a MIMD parallel computer. The algorithms used range from simple, local, and regular, to complex, non-local, and irregular. We describe our experiences with the hardware, software and parallel languages used, and discuss ideas for making distributed parallel computing on workstation networks more easily usable for computational physicists.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1993
• Where: HPDC
• Authors: Paul D. Coddington
• Keywords: Computational Physics Codes, Distributed And Parallel Computing, HPDC 1993, MIMD Parallel Computer, Parallel Computer