From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Message-ID: To: 9fans@cse.psu.edu Subject: Re: [9fans] parallel programming in Plan 9 From: andrey mirtchovski In-Reply-To: <4033D2CF.3030208@unm.edu> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 22:00:34 -0700 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Topicbox-Message-UUID: ece3334a-eacc-11e9-9e20-41e7f4b1d025 > Does someone mind explaining to me the advantages of using Plan 9 to=20 > write/run parallel programs over say writing a "traditional" parallel=20 > program using MPI?=20 There was an MPI implementation using Plan 9 cross-system mounts. There were even talks of rewriting it as a proper file system. The paper was rejected because a) nobody cares about reliability; b) everybody cares about squeezing the last 15=C2=B5s out of their implementation; c) plan9 won't be interesting as research for a while more -- Linux is where it's at; d) the paper wasn't all that good. I can tell you where it is, if you're really interested. As for Plan 9 vs MPI -- as Presotto said, threads and lightweight procs are perfect for handling load on a single machine (SMP preferably -- you should see how two or more cpus "soak load", to use Geoff's words, under Plan 9). You wouldn't get a fast MPI imlementation under Plan 9 unless you dig very deep into the OS, but then you can't beat Plan 9 for exporting services and interfaces for them (file servers) for others to use. Currently restricted to Plan 9-based clients only :) andrey