Design, implementation and performance of a mutex-token based fault-tolerant tuple space machine

Abstract

LiPS is a system for distributed computing using idle-cycles in networks of workstations. The system provides its user with the tuple space based generative communication paradigm of parallel computing as known from the coordination language LINDA. The core of the LiPS system is the fault-tolerant tuple space machine replicating the tuple space. The implementation, based on the protocols given by Y. Amir et al. (1993), is set up on a mutex token based membership protocol for handling crashing and joining tuple space servers, and a closely related total order protocol which establishes a linear order among all tuples. The linear order on tuples is used to speed up replication of reading tuple space accesses and decreases the memory requirements for message logs. As it is possible to add or remove tuple space servers at runtime, efficiency/reliability can be adjusted to the application needs.