Reliable Multicast protocols for Shared-memory Multiprocessors

Peter van der Stok

Appeared in: 3rd International workshop on responsive Computer Systems 1993, New hampshire, USA (1993)

ABSTRACT

Two protocols for reliable multicast in a multiprocessor system are presented. The protocols use mailboxes located in common memory to exchange messages, instead of relying on communication channels. The mailboxes are replicated for reliability.

The protocols have bounded completion time, making them suitable for use in hard real-time systems. Multiple source ordering is imposed on the messages that pass through a mailbox. The protocols are shown to be tolerant of memory crashes, and of process or processor failures. The basic protocol tolerates only crash failures of processes, while the second protocol can also handle timing failures.

Postscript