Multicomputers: message-passing concurrent computers

A status report is provided on the architecture and programming of a family of concurrent computers that are organized as ensembles of small programmable computers called nodes, connected by a message-passing network, each with its own private memory. The architecture of the multicomputer is described and contrasted with that of the shared-memory multiprocessor, and the concept of grain size (which depends on the size of the individual memories) is explained. Medium-grain and fine-grain multicomputers, with nodes containing megabytes and tens of kilobytes of memory, respectively, are examined, and their programming is discussed.< >