db_connect: Could not connect to paper db at "wotug@dragon.kent.ac.uk"<br>
db_connect: Could not connect to paper db at "wotug@dragon.kent.ac.uk"<br>

%T A Scalable Communication Network for a Parallel Database Machine
db_connect: Could not connect to paper db at "wotug@dragon.kent.ac.uk"<br>
%A  David Walter,  Jon Kerridge
db_connect: Could not connect to paper db at "wotug@dragon.kent.ac.uk"<br>
%E  Janet Edwards
%B Proceedings of WoTUG\-14: Occam and the Transputer\-Current Developments
%X The IDIOMS parallel database machine has at its kernel a
   scalable communications structure. The scalability is
   fundamental to the database machine because it is intended
   that the parts which are joined together by the
   communications network can be added to as demands on the
   database machine change. The network must be scalable both
   in terms og the number of user processes which can be
   supported, and, in order to meet the performance
   requirements of large systems, it should be possible to
   scale up the bandwidth of the network by adding further
   communication processors. The structure of a node in the
   network is described in terms of itsccam behavior which
   shows how node control is achieved by a control process that
   manipulates a set of flags by means of channel
   communications. The network is shown to be free from the
   possibility of deadlock. Finally, the performance and
   operational characteristics of the network are discussed and
   it is shown that the network is ideally suited for parallel
   database operation.