A distributed kernel for virtual time driven applications

The advent of distributed memory parallel machines turns the design and implementation of dedicated environments feasible for distributed applications. This paper addresses such a realization by presenting a distributed kernel, called FLORIA, whose aim is to provide a virtual time environment for application programs (distributed discrete event simulation is the most known of the applications based on such a virtual time-the so called simulation time-and consequently constitutes the paradigm of this class). This paper presents basic features of the virtual time concept and then describes the time-related aspects of the implementation of a distributed kernel dedicated to virtual time driven applications