From parallel@netcom.com Mon Dec 12 16:44:38 1994 Newsgroups: comp.parallel Path: ukc!uknet!EU.net!howland.reston.ans.net!swrinde!pipex!uunet!nflash2.concordia.ca!newsflash.concordia.ca!nstn.ns.ca!dragon.acadiau.ca!bounce-back From: parallel@netcom.com (B. Mitchell Loebel) Subject: The PARALLEL Processing Connection - December '94 meeting notice Status: R Message-ID: Originator: rmuise@dragon.acadiau.ca Lines: 45 Sender: news@relay.acadiau.ca Nntp-Posting-Host: dragon.acadiau.ca Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) Date: Mon, 5 Dec 1994 20:37:55 GMT Approved: rmuise@dragon.acadiau.ca Lines: 46 December 12th - CPU instruction-set extensions for multiprocessor interconnects We are fortunate to have a presentation by Dave James of Apple Computer; Dave is one of the best computer architects we have seen. The subject of his talk is certainly appropo given that most instruction sets have been optimized for uniprocessor environments. To effectively utilize multiprocessors on scalable interconnects, processors need to support additional capabilities, including 64-bit addressing, locks, non-blocking interrupts and synchronized time-of- day clocks. The constraints of a typical high-speed interconnect, ANSI/IEEE 1596, Scalable Coherent Interface, will be considered and Dave will show that 1. specialized signals (such as bus-lock and interrupt) as well as eavesdrop or broadcast-based protocols can be avoided 2 explicit lock instructions (such as fetch&add) scale better than LoadReserved- and StoreConditional-based instruction sequences and 3. mixed endian data types (big and little) require minimal hardware (but significant compiler) support. These are but a few of the excellent concepts which will be covered. A discussion of member projects currently underway and other issues of interest to entrepreneurs begins at 7:15PM and the main meeting starts promptly at 7:45PM at Sun Microsystems at 901 San Antonio Road in Palo Alto. This is just off the southbound San Antonio exit of 101. Northbound travelers also exit at San Antonio and take the overpass to the other side of 101. Please be prompt; as usual, we expect a large attendance; don't be left out or left standing. There is a $10 fee for non-members and members will be admitted free. Yearly membership fee is $50; corporate membership fee is $400/year. -- B. Mitchell Loebel parallel@netcom.com Director - Strategic Alliances and Partnering 408 732-9869 PARALLEL Processing Connection