Cluster-C*: understanding the performance limits

Data parallel languages are gaining interest as it becomes clear that they support a wider range of computation than previously believed. With improved network technology, it is now feasible to build data parallel supercomputers using traditional RISC-based workstations connected by a highspeed network. The paper presents an in-depth look at the communication behavior of nine C^* programs (J.L. Frankel, 1991). It also compares the performance of these programs on both a cluster of 8 HP 720 workstations and a 32 node (128 Vector Unit) CM-5. The result is that under some conditions, the cluster is faster on an absolute scale, and that on a relative, per-node scale, the cluster delivers superior performance in all cases