Newsgroups: comp.parallel.pvm
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From: eschandl@katya.acs.ilstu.edu (Eric Scott Chandler)
Subject: Re: experiences with PVM?
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Message-ID: <1994Mar29.064838.45829@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu>
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 1994 06:48:38 GMT
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Organization: Illinois State University, Applied Computer Science Department
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Jianlin Chang (chang@mjs.Phy.QueensU.CA) wrote:
: Is it easy to code in PVM compared with real parallel machines? Is it 
: wothwhile to try to code in PVM at this time? Thanks for the info and
: sorry for the simple questions.

Those aren't simple questions:  everybody learned PVM from someone at
sometime.  PVM can be quite easy, and quite hard.  It depends on the
commands that you use with the system.  If you want a "bullet proof"
parallel imbedded system with fault tolerance, you are talking about some
complex coding to the say the least.  
	If you simply stick to packing, unpacking, sending, broadcasting,
and retrieving data between the master(s) and slave(s), then PVM can be
learned literally in one day!  PVM is useful for many reasons:
	1.  It is good in educating people about distributed systems.
	2.  "  "   "    "     "        "     "   MIMD architectures.
	3.  It is fully compatible with many systems from Suns, to	
		Connection Machines.
	4.  It doesn't work with mainframes <- yet, thank goodness!
	5.  It is worthwile to program it, but I doubt it will get you a
		job, at least at this time.    
	6.  It can be used to link huge sources of computing power into one
		gigantomongo parallel computer.

	PVM seems to be at the forefront in heterogeneous network
implementation.  I suggest that you also look at other systems as well. 
Maybe you will find them "better" in your own opinion.  I'm not a PVM
advocate, or anything.  Try also: p4, Parallaxis, C-Linda (Suns only), and a
few more that I cant remember off hand.

I hope that helps you.

Eric Chandler
ACS Department Coffee Boy
Licenced therapist (Utah only)

