PowerSpaces

Java based cluster technology

The confluence of emerging trends in computing will lead to a an environment where computer power is as ubiquitous as electrical power and just as de-coupled from any physical source.

To this end, PowerSpaces was developed using the "grid" as a model.

 A "Customer" client connects to a "PowerPlant" Java server through a "Substation Transmission Line" TCP/IP connection and a "Transformer" I/O thread.  Inter-PowerPlant communication is handled through "Transmission Lines" and "I/O Towers" with "Transformers" and so on.
 

Description:

PowerSpaces is a pure Java parallel computing framework with an integrated object deep store through the DOMAIN Object Oriented Data Base Management System. Conceptually it lies somewhere between JavaSpaces, IBM T Spaces, and other LINDA related work.   It offers a complimentary technology for systems using TCP/IP connected processors
such as the Linux Beowulf cluster and Sun Jini.

Design Goals:

• Bandwidth scaleable
• Hot pluggable nodes
• Java Based
• Dynamic bytecode distribution
• Coarse to medium grain asynchronous parallel code execution
• Locality independence
• Integrated deep store through the 100% Pure Java DOMAIN object oriented database management system.

Function:

A multi-threaded Java PowerPlant server handles asynchronous communications between customers and other PowerPlants by transferring "Packets".

• Packets are serialized Java object "tuples".
• A PowerPlant functions as both an I/O node and a compute node.

PowerPlants form persistent TCP/IP connections between each other and can bind their input and output legs to multiple network interfaces.
Depending on physical network connections, PowerPlants can be joined in a "Network Of Workstations" using conventional LAN or "Pile of PC’s" with a high-bandwidth, point-to-point connection scheme.
 

Interconnected PowerPlants perform asynchronous parallel processing with automatic load balancing.  Customer "Stations" can be hot-plugged to a PowerPlant and associated "Handlers" with customer code
invoked within the grid.  Handlers may execute custom synchronization functions.

Status of prototype:
operational
test beds:
Linux 5.1/Blackdown JDK 1.1.7 with 7 PowerSpace nodes on Pentium II 266
Solaris 2.6/Sun JDK 1.1.6 Ultra SPARC II, Sun 4000, IBM RS/6000 AIX, with 3 nodes via LAN
Solaris 2.6/.. Ultra SPARC II to Sun 4000 with 2 nodes wired QUAD 100BaseT point-to-point (ongoing)
Linux 5.2/Blackdown with 7 PowerSpace nodes on 7 Intel 300 with multiple 100BaseT point-to-point (proposed)
Linux 5.2/Blackdown with 7 PowerSpace nodes on 7 Intel 300 with multiple Gigabit point-to-point (future)