"Message Passing"-Protokolle in einem verteilten heterogenen MULTIBUS-II-Mehrrechnersystem

Communication structures for decentralized process control systems are gradually adopting the concept of open, heterogeneous, distributed computer sytems built from components, which cooperate autonomously by means of standardized protocols. As an impact of recent advances in VLSI technology, communication within bus-based tightly-coupled multi-computer architectures occurs more and more between boards representing entire computer systems instead of mere functional units. This contribution presents design principles and performance results of a transport protocol which implements "Message Passing" according to the MULTIBUS-II standard. The features introduced by this important communication principle are illustrated from a general point of view. Finally, parameters and related designs decisions determinating performance issues are addressed.