Newsgroups: comp.parallel.mpi
From: jeff@is.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp (Jeff McAffer)
Subject: MPI support of host nodes
Organization: University of Tokyo / Object Technology International
Date: 10 Nov 1994 07:19:53 GMT
Message-ID: <39ship$d16@isnews.is.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp>


I've noticed a bit of a problem with the MPI topology strategy.  On
some of the multicomputers I use there is the notion of a "front-end"
or host computer.  Typically a regular Sun with some special interface
cards etc which sits between the node array and the rest of the world.
It would seem to be difficult to describe this host machine as a node
in an MPI topology.  Well, in a Cartesian topology.  

I suppose in principle a Graph topology is sufficient but it is sort
of frustrating that Cartesian provides everything you want except the
ability to have this one extra node.  

Am I overlooking something?  Is this really not that
important/widespread?  Is there a simple solution (other than manually
constructing a Cartesian out of a Graph)?

Comments?

JEff



--
ato de, |m        -- Putting the "fun" back in "dysfunctional".

