Newsgroups: comp.parallel.mpi
From: jme@hrz.tu-chemnitz.de (Joerg Meyer)
Subject: WinMPI v0.99b - MPI for MS Windows now with Borland C++ Support
Summary: The new version of WinMPI (MPI for Windows 3.1) supports both Microsoft Visual C 1.5 and Borland C 3.1.
Keywords: MPI WinMPI PC Windows
Organization: University of Technology Chemnitz, FRG
Date: 11 Sep 95 20:57:45 GMT
Message-ID: <4327vj$o31@pyrrhus-f.hrz.tu-chemnitz.de>

			>>>>	WinMPI v0.99b    <<<<
		Message Passing Interface for Microsoft Windows 3.1
				Version 0.99b
				  07/16/95

		       by Joerg Meyer, Hesham El-Rewini
			University of Nebraska at Omaha
			Department of Computer Science

WinMPI is the first MPI implementation for MS-Windows 3.1.  Version 0.99b
of WinMPI is a new beta release, which supports the full MPI standard. 
It runs on a single IBM compatible PC, no networking is required.  The
wide availability and broad acceptance of PC`s and MS Windows provides
access to the world of parallel programming to a large group of interested
people which either do not have access to UNIX computers or which are not
familiar with this operating system.  WinMPI programs can be written using
either Microsoft C++ 1.5 or Borland C++ 3.1.

WinMPI is a result of a master thesis by Joerg Meyer.  The idea came 
from Prof. Hesham El-Rewini, who also acted as advisor for this project.
The WinMPI package can be obtained by anonymous ftp from csftp.unomaha.edu
in the directory /pub/rewini/WinMPI.

WinMPI is based on MPICH from Argonne National Laboratory/Mississippi
State University.  WinMPI v0.99b is derived from MPICH as of June 17, 1994. 

----------
MOTIVATION
----------
One may wonder why MPI was ported to MS Windows.  The main goal of MPI is 
an interface for portable parallel software which can be executed in a 
shorter period of time.  WinMPI intents to broaden the acceptability of 
MPI within the community of parallel software users.  WinMPI trades 
speedup for wide availability.  The lion share of computer user today own 
IBM compatible PC's running MS-Windows.  WinMPI enables these people to
deal with MPI.

We consider WinMPI to be suitable especially for two fields of application:

LEARNING TOOL:
WinMPI encourages a new group of people to learn about parallel 
programming.  Familiar with MS-Windows, they can explore the world of 
parallel processing within their familiar environment.  C programming 
experience is sufficient, no UNIX experience needed.

DEVELOPMENT TOOL: 
MPI programs can be written and tested on a PC while only the final
program is run on the parallel machine.  The major part of the
implementation can be taken of these expensive computers, saving valuable
resources.  

----------------------
IMPLEMENTATION DETAILS
----------------------
WinMPI was implemented using the MS Visual C++ Compiler 1.5.  As the new
main feature of version 099b, WinMPI programs can be written using this 
compiler or Borland C++ 3.1.  The  WinMPI package contains library for
both compilers.  For demonstration purposes, two example programs 
(including executables) are included in the distribution.

Despite the numerous and fundamental differences between UNIX
and Windows programming, it is possible to run UNIX-MPI programs with
WinMPI and vice versa.  Minor changes may be required, though.  The WinMPI
documentation describes the steps (and pitfalls) of this procedure. 

WinMPI v0.99b comes in two sizes:

wmps099b.zip	(small) WinMPI distribution without source code
		contains libraries and header files for creating MPI 
		applications,  documentation and example programs
wmpl099b.zip	(large) WinMPI distribution 
		contains all files from the small distribution and the source
		code for the WinMPI libraries

We would appreciate comments, bug reports, experiences, and enhancement 
requests.  
   *** Post comments and bug reports to: jmeyer1@unocss.unomaha.edu ***

PS  This article has been posted in the US before, but apparently did not 
    make it across the Atlantic.

This article was posted to the following newsgroups:
			comp.parallel
			comp.parallel.mpi

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joerg Meyer			University of Technology Chemnitz, Germany
joerg.meyer@e-technik.tu-chemnitz.de

Prof. Hesham El-Rewini  	University of Nebraska at Omaha
rewini@unocss.unomaha.edu


--
Joerg Meyer			joerg.meyer@e-technik.tu-chemnitz.de
Vettersstrasse 66/503			Goethestrasse 30
09126 Chemnitz				08297 Zwoenitz
Germany					phone: (037754) 5322

