Notes on the "Worm" programs – some early experience with a distributed computation
by John F. Shoch and Jon A. Hupp
SSL-80-3 and IEN 159 May 1980, revised September 1980
© Xerox Corporation 1980
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Abstract: The "Worm" programs were an experiment in the development of distributed computations – programs that would span machine boundaries, and also replicate themselves in idle machines. A "worm" is composed of multiple "segments" each running on a different machine. The underlying worm maintenance mechanisms were responsible for maintaining the worm – finding free machines when needed, and replicating the program for each additional segment. The worm control procedures require some careful design, but this mechanism made each worm a very dynamic and robust program.
These techniques were then used to support several real applications, ranging from a simple multi-machine test program to a more sophisticated real-time animation system harnessing multiple machines.
The worm programs have helped to demonstrate that the tools are at hand for experimenting with distributed computations.
CR Categories: 3.81.
Key words and phrases: Distributed computations, distributed computing, multi-machine programs, Ethernet local network, Pup internetwork architecture.
This paper is to be presented at the Workshop on Fundamental Issues in Distributed Computing, ACM/SIGOPS and ACM/SIGPLAN, Pala Mesa Resort, December 1980.