MRNet: A Multicast/Reduction Network http://www.paradyn.org/mrnet/ Copyright © 2003-2009 Dorian C. Arnold, Philip C. Roth, Barton P. Miller. LICENSE contains the usage terms for MRNet. 1. OVERVIEW MRNet is a customizable, high-performance software infrastructure for building scalable tools and applications. It supports efficient multicast and data aggregation functionality using a tree of processes between the tool's front-end and back-ends. MRNet-based tools may use these internal processes to distribute many important tool activities, for example to reduce data analysis time and keep tool front-end loads manageable. MRNet-based tool components communicate across logical channels called streams. At MRNet internal processes, filters are bound to these streams to synchronize and aggregate dataflows. Using filters, MRNet can efficiently compute averages, sums, and other more complex aggregations and analyses on tool data. MRNet also supports facilities that allow tool developers dynamically load new tool-specific filters into the system. Features: * Flexible tool organization: MRNet does not dictate the organization of MRNet and tool processes, so MRNet-based tools can tailor MRNet's configuration to the requirements of the tool and its target environment. * Scalable, flexible data aggregation: MRNet provides a set of built-in filters for traditional data aggregation operations like averages, sums, and data concatenation. MRNet also supports custom, dynamically-loaded filters for tool-specific aggregations. * High-bandwidth communication: Internally, MRNet transfers data using an efficient, packed binary representation. Zero-copy data paths are used whenever possible to reduce data transfer latency. * Scalable multicast: MRNet supports efficient multicast to reduce the cost of delivering tool control messages to tool back-ends. * Multiple concurrent data channels: MRNet supports multiple logical channels of data between tool components. Multiple aggregation and multicast operations may be in progress simultaneously. * Open source licensing. 2. MRNet v2.1 RELEASE NOTES This release of MRNet includes a source distribution for all platforms, as well as associated manuals. The release incorporates improvements made to MRNet since version 2.0. For information about the software releases, plus papers and manuals on the MRNet system, visit: http://www.paradyn.org/mrnet Release Highlights: * New API for Stream performance data collection * New support for heterogeneous Stream filters * Intel and Portland Group compiler support * Improved topology generation facility * Numerous bug fixes and enhancements 3. SUPPORTED PLATFORMS MRNet is designed to be a highly-portable system. The source code has been compiled using both GNU GCC and native platform compilers. We have successfully tested MRNet components on the following platforms: - i686-pc-linux-gnu - ia64-unknown-linux-gnu - x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu - powerpc64-unknown-linux-gnu - rs6000-ibm-aix5.2.0.0 - sparc-sun-solaris2.8 - i386-unknown-nt4.0 4. CONTACT Paradyn Project Computer Sciences Department University of Wisconsin 1210 West Dayton Street Madison, WI 53706 Web: http://www.paradyn.org/mrnet Email: paradyn@cs.wisc.edu FAX: (608) 262-9777