Newsgroups: comp.parallel.pvm
From: edemaine@ug.cs.dal.ca (Erik Demaine)
Subject: Critique on PVM?
Summary: I am looking for criticisms (positive and negative) on PVM
Keywords: PVM MPI
Organization: Math, Stats & CS, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 1994 21:28:37 GMT
Message-ID: <Cx9szr.605@cs.dal.ca>

Hello,

I'm looking for criticisms (both positive and negative) of PVM. I am writing
a paper on PVM and would like its advantages/disadvantages/critical problems.
Are there things you'd like to see changed in it? I have minimal experience
running PVM, and would like to hear from others.

I also welcome criticism on similar MPI implementations (such as CHIMP, etc.)

Some things mentioned already:

 Negative
   1) Processors use direct links to each other? Big overhead...
   2) UDP and TCP? UDP is very unreliable...
   3) Difficultly installing the thing!
   4) Once installed, it seems default task distribution does NOT go over
      the virtual machine...

 Positive
   1) Automatic type conversion between hosts
   2) Packed messages (so you don't have to send multiple messages)
   3) "Pretty" user interface (though it doesn't do much..)

Please reply via Email as I don't check the news often.

advTHANXance!!

Erik (edemaine@ug.cs.dal.ca)
--
Erik Demaine        || edemaine@ug.cs.dal.ca  || edemaine@fx2800.dal.ca
edemaine@cs.dal.ca  || 01ERIK@ac.dal.ca       || edemaine@is.dal.ca
TRIVIA: Lifesavers are made with holes so if you choked on one you can breath.

