M31: a large-scale multiprocessor VAX for parallel processing research

An overview is given of the M31, a custom-designed, large-scale multiprocessor VAX for support of research and experimentation in the area of parallel processing. It is a shared-memory design with all processors having equal access to all physically available memory over a common bus. A description is given of the fast backplane interconnect, a major innovation of the M31 design. Also discussed are the processor/cache module, memory subsystem, instrumentation hardware, and software development.<
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