Distributed shared memory

Abstract

Distributed shared memory (DSM) is the provision in software of a shared memory programming model on a distributed memory machine [6]. We are exploring the use of DSM in a cluster-based computing environment of workstations and servers connected by a local internetwork.We have concentrated so far on using DSM to program compute-intensive tasks on networks of workstations. For these applications, DSM is a superior programming model compared to message passing, because it relieves the programmer from having to worry about data motion. Second, DSM allows applications written for shared memory machines to be ported with relative ease to distributed memory machines. Finally, DSM offers a natural paradigm for integrating both the locally shared memory and the globally distributed memory of anticipated future networks of shared memory multiprocessors. In particular, in such an environment, local interprocess communication is likely to dominate and therefore should be implemented in the most efficient form possible, i.e., by using the (hardware) shared memory available. It then follows that to achieve a single paradigm for both local and remote interprocess communication, DSM is the natural choice.