About This Manual

This manual is provided for two major purposes:

It is a tutorial and reference guide for new and experienced High Performance Fortran programmers.
It describes the setup, configuration, and use of Digital Parallel Software Environment (PSE) and of PSE clusters.

High Performance Fortran (HPF) is a set of extensions to Fortran 90 that provides the high-level language features needed to write parallel programs. PSE provides the run-time environment for parallel execution of HPF programs on PSE clusters, as well as a parallel profiler and debugger.

PSE is designed to create an environment for developing, debugging, and executing HPF programs on a PSE cluster. A PSE cluster is a parallel system made up of one or more workstations and symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) machines running PSE software and Digital UNIX.

The development and execution of parallel HPF programs on a PSE cluster requires the PSE software, the Digital Fortran 90 compiler, and the Digital UNIX operating system.

Audience

This manual covers a wide variety of topics relating to PSE, parallel Clusters, and the HPF programming language. It is intended for the following types of users:

HPF programmers
PSE users

Required Prerequisites

The HPF portions of the manual assume familiarity with Fortran.

To compile and run parallel HPF programs, users must have access to a PSE cluster on which Digital UNIX, the Digital Fortran 90 software and PSE are installed and configured.

Document Structure

This manual consists of seventeen chapters and four appendixes, organized as follows:

Chapter 1 - Provides an overview of HPF, PSE, and PSE clusters.
Section I: HPF Tutorial-Contains the HPF tutorial:
- Chapter 2, LU Decomposition- Introduces the FORALL construct, the INDEPENDENT directive, and HPF data distribution.
- Chapter 3, Solving Nearest Neighbor Problems- Discusses BLOCK distribution, and Digital Fortran 90's optimization of nearest neighbor problems.
- Chapter 4, Visualizing the Mandelbrot Set- Presents the use of the PURE attribute, the use of non-Fortran subprograms within an HPF program, and the use of non-parallel HPF subprograms.
- Chapter 5, Simulating Network Striped Files- Presents techniques for parallel Input/Output, as well as local subroutines (parameterized by processor), and passing distributed arrays through the procedure interface.
SECTION II: HPF Reference - Contains reference information for HPF:
- Chapter 6 - Provides a summary of and general reference to HPF
- Chapter 7 - Provides information on optimizing HPF programs and compiler usage tips
SECTION III: User Guide-Contains information for the PSE user:
- Chapter 8 - Explains how to compile and run HPF programs using PSE. Describes the PSE user environment. Describes environment variables, and compile-time and run-time command-line options.
- Chapter 9 - Describes debugging techniques for HPF programs running under PSE
- Chapter 10 - Describes how to use the pprof profiler to profile HPF programs running under PSE
SECTION IV: Administration Guide-Contains information for the PSE administrator:
- Chapter 11 - Gives examples and diagrams of typical PSE cluster configurations
- Chapter 12 - Describes the methods recommended by Digital for creating a single system image
- Chapter 13 - Describes PSE installation tasks, including preinstallation and initial loading of the PSE software. Also gives brief summaries of the steps needed to propagate the software across the cluster, and of optional cluster customization.
- Chapter 14 - Describes the setld software installation procedure for the PSE software
- Chapter 15 - Explains how to use the PSE Remote Install facility for propagating the software across the cluster.
- Chapter 16 - Gives instructions for optional PSE cluster customization.
- Chapter 17 - Describes PSE maintenance procedures
Appendix A - Lists manpages related to HPF and PSE.
Appendix B - Describes error messages related to HPF and PSE
Appendix C - Tells how to generate a list of files contained in the installation kit
Appendix D - The Digital High Performance Fortran 90 Language Specification

Conventions

The following conventions are used in this manual.

Convention Meaning

% $ A percent sign represents the Digital UNIX system prompt. A dollar sign represents the system prompt for OpenVMS VAX systems.

% cat Boldface type in interactive examples indicates typed user input.

# A number sign represents the Digital UNIX superuser prompt.

file Italic (slanted) type indicates variable values, placeholders, and function argument names for Digital UNIX commands and functions.

OSF/1, DEC OSF/1, Digital UNIX All of these terms refer to the same operating system.

cat TYPE Digital UNIX command names are shown in a constant-width typeface. OpenVMS VAX commands are shown in all uppercase characters.

cat (1) A cross-reference to a reference page includes the appropriate section number in parenthesis. For example, cat (1) indicates that you can find information on the cat command in Section 1 of the reference pages.

Ctrl /x This symbol indicates that you press the X key while holding down the Ctrl key.

... In examples, a horizontal series of dots, or ellipsis, indicates that additional parameters, values, or other information can be entered.

. . . In examples, a vertical series of dots, or vertical ellipsis, indicates that a portion of the actual code that would normally be present is omitted.

[ ] In syntax descriptions and function definitions, brackets indicate that items are optional.

[Return] In examples, a key name shown within a box indicates that you press a key on the keyboard. In text, a key name is not enclosed in a box but printed with an initial capital letter, like Return.

n A lowercase italic n indicates the generic use of a number.

italicized text In examples, italicized text is used to denote parameters, values, or other information that changes either from session to session or user to user. In text, italicized words or phrases are used to add emphasis to important words, concepts, or titles of manuals.

code examples This typeface is used to display program coding examples.

Convention	Meaning
% $	A percent sign represents the Digital UNIX system prompt. A dollar sign represents the system prompt for OpenVMS VAX systems.
% cat	Boldface type in interactive examples indicates typed user input.
#	A number sign represents the Digital UNIX superuser prompt.
file	Italic (slanted) type indicates variable values, placeholders, and function argument names for Digital UNIX commands and functions.
OSF/1, DEC OSF/1, Digital UNIX	All of these terms refer to the same operating system.
`cat` TYPE	Digital UNIX command names are shown in a constant-width typeface. OpenVMS VAX commands are shown in all uppercase characters.
`cat` (1)	A cross-reference to a reference page includes the appropriate section number in parenthesis. For example, `cat` (1) indicates that you can find information on the `cat` command in Section 1 of the reference pages.
Ctrl /x	This symbol indicates that you press the X key while holding down the Ctrl key.
...	In examples, a horizontal series of dots, or ellipsis, indicates that additional parameters, values, or other information can be entered.
. . .	In examples, a vertical series of dots, or vertical ellipsis, indicates that a portion of the actual code that would normally be present is omitted.
[ ]	In syntax descriptions and function definitions, brackets indicate that items are optional.
[Return]	In examples, a key name shown within a box indicates that you press a key on the keyboard. In text, a key name is not enclosed in a box but printed with an initial capital letter, like Return.
n	A lowercase italic n indicates the generic use of a number.
italicized text	In examples, italicized text is used to denote parameters, values, or other information that changes either from session to session or user to user. In text, italicized words or phrases are used to add emphasis to important words, concepts, or titles of manuals.
`code examples`	This typeface is used to display program coding examples.

Sending Digital Your Comments on This Manual

Digital welcomes your comments on this manual. You can send comments in the following ways:

Internet electronic mail: pse@hpc.pko.dec.com
FAX: 508-493-3628 ATTN: PSE Team
A Reader's Comment Card sent to the address on the form

A letter sent to the following address:

      Digital Equipment Corporation
      High Performance Computing Group
      129 Parker Street  PKO3-2/B12
      Maynard, MA  01754-2195

Online questionnaire form - Print or edit the questionnaire form provided near the end of the online release notes; send the form by electronic mail, FAX, or the postal service

Getting Help from Digital

If you have a customer support contract and have comments or questions about Digital Fortran 90 software, you contact Digital's Customer Support Center (CSC), preferably using electronic means such as DSNlink. In the United States, customers can call the CSC at 1-800-354-9000. 1