Using Schooner to Support Distribution and Heterogeneity in the
Numerical Propulsion System Simulation Project
Patrick T. Homer
and
Richard D. Schlichting
Department of Computer Science
The University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA
{patrick, rick}@cs.arizona.edu
Abstract
The Numerical Propulsion System Simulation (NPSS) project has
been initiated by NASA to explore the use of computer simulation in the
development of new aircraft propulsion technology.
With this approach, each engine component is modeled by a separate
computational code, with a simulation executive connecting
the codes and modeling component interactions.
Since each code potentially executes on a different machine in a network,
a simulation run is a heterogeneous distributed program in which
diverse software and hardware elements are incorporated into a
single computation.
In this paper, a prototype simulation executive that supports this
type of programming is described.
The two components of this executive are the AVS scientific
visualization system and the Schooner heterogeneous remote procedure
call (RPC) facility.
In addition, the match between Schooner's capabilities and the needs
of NPSS is evaluated based on our experience with a collection of test codes.
The basic conclusion is that, while Schooner fared well in general,
it exhibited certain deficiencies that dictated changes
in its design and implementation.
This discussion not only documents the evolution of Schooner, but
also serves to highlight the practical problems that can be encountered
when dealing with heterogeneity and distribution in such applications.
Concurrency--Practice and Experience 6, 4 (June 1994),
271-287.
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