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Subject: Re: MultiProcessor Systems, many questions...

Author: Zachariah Amela

Date: 13:24:09 07/06/99

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On July 06, 1999 at 15:46:02, Dann Corbit wrote:

>On July 06, 1999 at 15:38:49, Zachariah Amela wrote:
>
>>Hello all.  I am most interested in this type of system configuration,
>>especially in the realm of computer chess programming.  Any information would be
>> most gratefully accepted.
>>
>>My question are:
>>
>>How exactly does this work?  How would one code for such a system?
>There are many different ways to make this work.  The way one codes for such a
>system depends largely on what you have decided to do.  It is fairly difficult
>for chess, because you must decide what is separable and what is not.  Also,
>access to hash tables, etc. must be controlled so that you don't try two
>simultaneous operations for which at least one is a write.
>
>>Who produces multiprocessor systems currenlty?  I know Sun does as does Oracle,
>>but anyone in the x86 universe?
>Lots and lots.  A web search will turn up hundreds of companies.

Which would you recommend?

>
>>What operating systems support these systems?  WindowsNT?  Linux?  MacOS?
>>SunOS?
>For sure all of them, except perhaps MacOS.  I know of all the others.  Also any
>UNIX, OpenVMS, MVS, etc.  Just about every modern OS has threads.

Again, which would you recommend?  I am most familiar w/ Windows, but have some
UNIX and Mac background.  I have only developed software for Windows
(professionally) and the old Apple and/or Mac (for my own fun) systems.

>
>>What is Beowulf?
>A multiprocessing model.  I think it won't work well for chess.  But go ahead
>and try it if you like.

Do you have a web resource that I might view? Thank you.

>
>>Where could one purchase such a system?  Better question;  how could somone make
>>his/her customer machine in this fashion?
>Try a web search.  There are too many answers.
>
>>What chess programs utilize this system?  KnightCap?  GNU?
>Crafty is SMP.  Also, the new Diep and several other programs at WCCC99.  You
>can look them up at the web page.  Cilkchess uses a very different programming
>metaphor for multiple CPU's -- a language called CILK which is close to C but
>used for work distribution.

Cilk, yes I have heard of that somewhere.  Sounds most interesting.
>

Thank you for the information.



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