Computer Science 555 - Reading Report #1 -- Fall 2008

Due: Wednesday, September 17, 2008, 11:00 p.m.

• Compare and contrast the message passing, distributed shared memory, and remote procedire call approaches to inter-process communication in distributed systems. In answering this question, consider the course readings and our discussion in lecture.
  • Does it make sense to implement any of the models using the others? Why or why not?
  • As part of your comparison, consider the use of the above models in the following hardware platforms: interprocess communication on a single computer, cluster of workstations connected by a local-area network, and a shared-memory multiprocessor.
  • Use example applications to justify the use of one approach over the other.

INSTRUCTION:

The report must be submitted by 11:00 p.m. on September 17th. The report should be approximately 3 pages, or roughly 1200 to 1500 words. To submit your report you will use the DEN Blackboard assignent submission mechanism. You will use this method regardless of whether you are an on-campus student or a DEN student.

How to submit Reading Report #1:

• STEP 1. Please login to DEN, and select csci555.
• STEP 2. Please select "Assignment" in the menu.
• STEP 3. Please select "view/Complete Reading Report #1".
• STEP 4. Please select "File To Attach" to attach your report. (NOTE: PDF, MS WORD, ASCII TEXT ONLY! Other formats are NOT acceptable.)
• STEP 5. Please select "Submit" button. (If you select *SAVE* button instead of *submit*, then the TA cannot view your report for grading.)

It is the individual student's responsibility to follow the submission instruction. Submissions that do not follow this instructions, e.g., submitted late, or only "Saved" and not submitted. may be penalized or may not be graded at all. Note that the submission box for the assignment may dissapear from the class web site at 11PM on September 17th, i.e. the submission deadline.

GUIDELINE:

This is a lot to cover in so few words - so our advice is to write a first pass at your answer that is longer, and then edit out material that is redundant or not to the point. The use of tables can be very effective in conveying your ideas in a small area, but the tables must be integrated with your textual discussion, and not the only item in your submission.