A Virtual Memory Model for Parallel Supercomputers 3

A model for virtual memory in a distributed memory parallel computer is proposed. It uses a novel parallel computing operating system framework and leads to the definition of two strategies for implementing parallel virtual memory. Careful analysis and simulation results indicate that dynamic page allocation performs better for applications that exhibit some locality of reference of public data and for applications whose data space does not fit in the physical memory available. Static page allocation is more efficient in cases of poor locality and small data space (no virtual memory needed). 1