PARALLEL FILE-SYSTEMS FOR THE IBM SP COMPUTERS

Parallel computer architectures require innovative software solutions to utilize their capabilities. This statement is true for system softw are no less than for application programs. File system development for the IBM SP product line of computers started with the Vesta research project, which introduced the ideas of parallel access to partitioned files. This technology was then integrated with a conventional Advance d Interactive Executive(TM) (AIX)(TM) environment to create the ISM AI X Parallel I/O File System product. We describe the design and impleme ntation of Vesta, including user interfaces and enhancements to the co ntrol environment needed to run the system. Changes to the basic desig n that were made as part of the AIX Parallel I/O File System are ident ified and justified.