An analysis of language models for high-performance communication in local-area networks

Abstract

In this paper we present an empirical analysis of language models for communication in distributed systems. We consider a computing environment in which a high-level, distributed programming language kernel is sufficient support for high-performance programming applications. We propose programming language support for such an environment and present the performance results of an implementation. Using the distributed programming language StarMod as a context, we describe language constructs for message-based communication (including broadcast), remote invocation, and remote memory references. Each form of communication is integrated into StarMod in a consistent fashion maintaining the properties of transparency, modularity, and full parameter functionality. The costs and benefits associated with the various models of communication are analyzed based on the results of an implementation which runs on 8 PDP 11/23; microprocessors connected by a 1 megabit/second network.