Multicomputer networks : message-based parallel processing /

With the widespread availability of fast, powerful, yet inexpensive microprocessors, computer architects have turned to designing multicomputer systems. The popular hypercube multiprocessor is but one example of the multicomputer systems described in this book. After a brief introduction to various types of multiprocessors, the authors provide a solid discussion of the analytic tools used in the modeling of the interconnection network, which constitutes the backbone of the entire system. They analyze the various communication paradigms, the hardware support needed to implement these paradigms, and the technological issues involved in very-large-scale integration (VLSI) implementation of nodal processors. There is a thorough discussion of the multicomputer network operating system; two chapters are dedicated to the applications-discrete event simulation and solution of partial differential equations; and the concluding chapter provides a succinct description of the many commercially available multicomputer systems based on the hypercube interconnection. A number of benchmark results are also given. In all, this book provides an excellent introduction to the analysis, design, and performance of multicomputer systems based on message passing paradigm. A very welcome and a timely addition to the growing literature on parallel processing.-S. Lakshmivarahan, University of Oklahoma