MERLIN. A superglue for multicomputer systems

The memory-routed logical interconnection network (MERLIN) is a memory-based interconnection system designed to provide very high-performance capability in a distributed multicomputer environment. By using dynamically mapped reflective memory operations, the system creates a virtual-memory environment which permits users to utilize both local and shared-memory techniques. This mapped virtual-memory approach permits selected information to be shared at high speeds and with relatively low latency. There is no software involvement in the actual sharing of information, and the system automatically overlaps computation and communication, to the extent possible, on a word-by-word basis. Memory-to-memory mapping allows MERLIN to provide a uniform programming environment which is independent of interconnection topology, processing elements, and languages.<>