LAM / MPI Parallel Computing

LAM (Local Area Multicomputer) is an MPI programming environment and development system for heterogeneous computers on a network. With LAM, a dedicated cluster or an existing network computing infrastructure can act as one parallel computer solving one problem.

LAM features extensive debugging support in the application development cycle and peak performance for production applications. LAM features a full implementation of the MPI communication standard.

LAM 6.1 is now available. The "LAM 6.1 Release Notes" describe the highlights of this new version.
There is a new, comprehensive list of MPI implementations.

LAM Key Features

full MPI implementation
heterogeneous networks
extensive process / message debugging
dynamic MPI process spawning
dynamic LAM nodes
fault tolerance
fast client-to-client communication
freely available under a GNU license

LAM is portable to all UNIX machines and includes standard support for SUN (SunOS and Solaris), SGI IRIX, IBM AIX, DEC OSF/1, HPUX, and LINUX.

More LAM Information

"LAM Overview" describes its full purpose and scope.
"LAM Installation Guide"
"Getting Started with MPI on LAM" is a quick tutorial.
"MPI Primer / Developing With LAM" is an 86 page PostScript document with a 30 page pull-out chapter, "MPI Programming Primer", that is MPI portable and can be used with any implementation.
The LAM ftp site contains LAM papers, documentation and software.

More LAM Software

XMPI is a graphical user interface for running and debugging MPI programs.
XMTV is a graphics client/server package that emulates a frame buffer.
XLED is a client/server package that emulates hardware LEDs.

How to Get LAM

LAM was developed at the Ohio Supercomputer Center and is freely available under a GNU license from the LAM ftp site.

Message Passing Interface Standard

A multilateral gathering of parallel computing users, vendors and researchers has specified a complete interface for message-based interprocess communication. The MPI standard means true portability for parallel programs. It defines the necessary infrastructure for third party software products and will enable a wider proliferation of parallel technology. The specific semantics of the communication interface, its perceived popular and future prospects, need no longer be a factor in choosing an environment or a vendor for developing parallel applications. Users and buyers can focus on other factors such as efficiency of implementation and related development tools.

A complete implementation of the MPI specification is part of LAM.

MPI Key Features

formally specified standard
100% source code portable
enables third party libraries
arbitrary derived data types to minimize overhead
process topologies for efficiency on MPP
can fully overlap communication
extensive group communication

More MPI Software

MPI Cubix is a portable collective I/O library for MPI (LAM, MPICH, etc) and POSIX.

More MPI Information

Quick Tutorials

MPI Quick Tutorials give the new user a fast start.
MPI Quick Reference Card, PostScript, two sided fold-up, 8.5 x 11

Standard Document

The MPI standard document contains the formal specification.
The LAM ftp site contains the MPI standard document in PostScript.

Miscellaneous

An MPI FAQ is maintained at Mississippi State University.
OSC maintains a comprehensive list of MPI implementations.
Review the results of the MPI Poll '95.

Bibliography and Papers

ORNL maintains a bibliography of MPI related papers.
"Robust Message Delivery Through Guaranteed Resources" describes implementation and portability issues in core MPI message delivery. It is of special interest to implementors.
"The Performance of LAM 6.0 and MPICH 1.0.12 on a Workstation Cluster"

Other MPI sites on WWW

Mississippi State University
Argonne National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

LAM / MPI Parallel Computing / Ohio Supercomputer Center / lam@tbag.osc.edu