Simulating the DYNIX operating system parallel programming interface on a UNIX system

✍ Scribed by Mehdi Badii

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 95 KB
• Volume: 28
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0038-0644
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-024x(19980425)28:5<463::aid-spe162>3.0.co;2-o

✦ Synopsis

This paper presents the implementation of multitasking functions of DYNIX Sequent computers on the UNIX operating system. The Sequent computers are shared memory multiprocessor computers running the DYNIX operating system. These functions support data and function partitioning. They let the user implement subprograms by the processors of a Sequent computer in parallel. The functions can synchronize, lock, and unlock data and program segments. As a result, the simulator allows the users to develop their multitasking programs on a uniprocessor computer such as a SUN workstation, and later port them to a Sequent computer. Further, the simulator adds a level of abstraction on top of UNIX for concurrent programming. The functions of the simulator allow the user to handle the communication and synchronization of the processes in a program at a higher level of abstraction, while concentrating on the design of multitasking algorithms. The simulator is applied to a parallel selection algorithm.