Using Schooner to support distribution and heterogeneity in the Numerical Propulsion System Simulation project

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Abstract
The Numerical Propulsion System Simulation (NPSS) project has been initiated by NASA to explore the use of computer simulation in the development of new aircraft propulsion technology. With this approach, each engine component is modeled by a separate computational code, with a simulation executive connecting the codes and modeling component interactions. Since each code potentially executes on a different machine in a network, a simulation run is a heterogeneous distributed program in which diverse software and hardware elements are incorporated into a single computation. In the paper a prototype simulation executive that supports this type of programming is described. The two components of this executive are the AVS scientific visualization system and the Schooner heterogeneous remote procedure call (RPC) facility. In addition, the match between Schooner's capabilities and the needs of NPSS is evaluated based on our experience with a collection of test codes. The basic conclusion is that, while Schooner fared well in general, it exhibited certain deficiencies that dictated changes in its design and implementation. This discussion not only documents the evolution of Schooner, but also serves to highlight the practical problems that can be encountered when dealing with heterogeneity and distribution in such applications.

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