Parallel Computing on Distributed Memory Multiprocessors

Book excerpt: Advances in microelectronic technology have made massively parallel computing a reality and triggered an outburst of research activity in parallel processing architectures and algorithms. Distributed memory multiprocessors - parallel computers that consist of microprocessors connected in a regular topology - are increasingly being used to solve large problems in many application areas. In order to use these computers for a specific application, existing algorithms need to be restructured for the architecture and new algorithms developed. The performance of a computation on a distributed memory multiprocessor is affected by the node and communication architecture, the interconnection network topology, the I/O subsystem, and the parallel algorithm and communication protocols. Each of these parametersis a complex problem, and solutions require an understanding of the interactions among them. This book is based on the papers presented at the NATO Advanced Study Institute held at Bilkent University, Turkey, in July 1991. The book is organized in five parts: Parallel computing structures and communication, Parallel numerical algorithms, Parallel programming, Fault tolerance, and Applications and algorithms.