NUMA

[clark_k at pannaway.com (Kevin D. Clark)]

markw at mohawksoft.com writes:

> Non-Uniform Memory Architecture is a way of clustering multiple CPUs,
> closer than something like a beowulf, but not quite SMP either.
>
> Has anyone seen or heard of NUMA being simulated or implemented using high
> speed ethernet?

Yes.  You might find the following projects interesting:

   o  Split-C -- parallel extension to C

   o  TreadMarks -- API that facilitates distributed shared memory (DSM).

   o  OpenMP -- standard/API that facilitates distributed shared memory.

   o  C* if you are interested in parallel computation and can find a
      version that is available.


I've done some work with a project called Hyperion (at the University
of NH), which is a implementation of a Java Virtual Machine that can
be run on clusters of workstations.  This comes with a DSM subsystem
as well.


Please note that "high-speed ethernet" (lets say 100Mbps) has some
characteristics that aren't always optimal for cluster computations --
there is usually a lot of latency -- systems that generate lots of
small messages tend to get bogged down in the networking layer.

Regards,

--kevin
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