Distributed computation of wave propagation models using PVM

Abstract

The Parallel Virtual Machine(PVM) allows researchers to connect workstations, mini-supercomputers, or specialty machines to form a relatively inexpensive, powerful, parallel computer. Such hardware is frequently abundant at research locations, so PVM incurs little or no hardware costs. PVM is also flexible: it uses existing communication networks (Ethernet or fiber) and remote procedural libraries; it lets programmers use either C or Fortran; and it can emulate several commercial architectures including hypercubes, meshes, and rings. The authors believe that PVM can compete effectively with traditional supercomputers, and they have demonstrated its computational power and cost-effectiveness by simulating the propagation of seismic waves using an isolated Ethernet ring comprising an IBM RS/6000 550 as the host and six RS/6000 320H machines as the nodes.<>