The NYU Ultracomputer Project

The NYU Ultracomputer Lab conducts research in parallel computer architecture and software design. Specifically, we have constructed two generations of shared memory machines: an 8 processor bus-based machine in the 1980's and, our current prototype, a 16 processor, 16 memory-module machine with custom VLSI switches supporting the Fetch-and-Add coordination primitive. This design allows for a reduction in memory hot-spot contention by interleaving memory addresses between the memory modules, and using the network switches to combine requests destined for the same memory location. The Ultracomputer runs Symunix, a locally developed, parallel version of Unix.

We have information available on

staff and students



technical reports



theses



the Ultra III design proposal



the Ultra III evaluation proposal