Beyond vector processing: parallel programming on the CRAY APP

The CRAY APP is a highly parallel network compute server designed to accelerate Fortran and C programs in a UNIX environment. It can run complete programs in a simple shared memory environment, including support for UNIX system calls. A very efficient HiPPI interface makes the CRAY APP cluster-capable and well-suited to interact with other programs running on a network in a client/server mode. Several novel features of the CRAY APP system design and programming environment allow for simple porting and incremental tuning of existing applications. These include a highly efficient microkernel operating system, low overhead library-based parallel support software, and a simple refinement to existing vectorization techniques called data vectorization.<
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