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Notes on the "Worm" programs --
some early experience with a distributed computation
by John F. Shoch and Jon A. Hupp
SSL-80-3 and IEN 159 May 1980, revised September 1980
(c) Xerox Corporation 1980
[Note: This file, IEN-159.TXT, contains only the abstract from the
paper. For a complete version of the paper, please send a message
to Shoch@Parc, or send a note to:
SSL Publications Coordinator
Xerox Parc
3333 Coyote Hill Road
Palo Alto, California 94304.
Alternatively, people who can print files in "Press" format may
directly retrieve [Maxc]<RFC>IEN-159.press.]
Abstract: The "Worm" programs were an experiment in the
development of distributed computations -- programs that would
span machine boundaries, and also replicate themselves in idle
machines. A "worm" is composed of multiple "segments" each
running on a different machine. The underlying worm maintenance
mechanisms were responsible for maintaining the worm -- finding
free machines when needed, and replicating the program for each
additional segment. The worm control procedures require some
careful design, but this mechanism made each worm a very dynamic
and robust program.
These techniques were then used to support several real
applications, ranging from a simple multi-machine test program to a
more sophisticated real-time animation system harnessing multiple
machines.
The worm programs have helped to demonstrate that the tools are at
hand for experimenting with distributed computations.
CR Categories: 3.81.
Key words and phrases: Distributed computations, distributed
computing, multi-machine programs, Ethernet local network, Pup
internetwork architecture.
This paper is to be presented at the Workshop on Fundamental
Issues in Distributed Computing, ACM/SIGOPS and ACM/SIGPLAN,
Pala Mesa Resort, December 1980.