Structuring distributed shared memory with the pi architecture

The authors examine the use of a new architecture for the design of system software. The architecture allows the construction of flexible system software components, and the resulting realizations can be tailored to the needs of various applications. The focus is on the application of that architecture to distributed shared memory (DSM). The system software architecture, called pi , defines elements of system software as generalized objects. These x objects have two interfaces: one for usage and one for additional control. pi enables system software components to evolve as computer hardware evolves and it addresses the demands emerging classes of applications like object-oriented databases and multimedia. The pi architecture and its use in a DSM subsystem for clustered workstations are discussed.< >