Distribution of Linda across a network of workstations

• Main Author: Schumann, Charles N.
• Other Authors: Computer Science
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: Virginia Tech 2014
• Subjects: LD5655.V855 1993.S386; Computer networks; LINDA (Computer system); Microcomputer workstations; Parallel processing (Electronic computers); Parallel programming (Computer science)
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10919/45618; http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-11102009-020239/

The Linda programming language provides an architecturally independent paradigm for writing parallel programs. By designing and implementing Linda on a network of stand alone workstations a scalable multicomputer can be constructed from existing equipment. This thesis presents the design, implementation and testing of a distributable Linda kernel and communications subsystem providing a framework for full distribution of Linda on a network of workstations. Following a presentation of the Linda language, the kernel’s design and rationale are presented. The design provides for interprocess communications by implementing a protocol on top of the Unix socket facility. Choosing sockets as the interprocess communications medium has the advantage of wide portability. However, a design critique is presented which addresses several disadvantages of the socket based communications model. Considerable attention is given to quantifying the effectiveness of this design in comparison to a shared memory, non-distributable design from Yale University. A thorough investigation into the source of particular observed phenomena is presented which leads to an improvement in wall time performance of an order of magnitude. === Master of Science