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The ch_p4 device

This is the ``network of workstations'' implementation of MPICH. P4 (Portable Programs for Parallel Processors) is an older message passing library that was used to implement the MPICH ADI[9]. The ``ch'' in ``ch_p4'' stands for ``channel.'' The ADI is in fact implemented in terms of a simpler ``channel'' interface, and the channel interface is implemented in terms of P4. The layering is not strict.

The ch_p4 device is characterized by the following.

While the ch_p4 device provides a way to run MPICH on networks of workstations, it is not very friendly to users.


next up previous
Next: The ch_shmem and ch_lfshmem Up: MPICH Previous: Problems.

Jack Dongarra
Sun Nov 9 14:03:51 EST 1997