Multi Parallel Processing Dec87

This internal report, titled "Emerging Technologies: Multi/Parallel Processing" by Mary C. Kulas, dated December 1987, updates a 1984 study on multi/parallel processors, focusing on the scientific/engineering market. It provides updated company and product profiles and analyzes significant market changes.

Key findings include:

• Market Growth & Players: The number of companies in the market increased from approximately 12 to 26. Total estimated market revenue grew from $314.1 million in 1984 to $505.9 million in 1986, with installed units rising from 330 to 1521. A new class of "massively parallel" machines (100+ CPUs) has emerged. Many early start-ups have gone public, and larger companies have created spin-offs for multiprocessing efforts, though some companies have also gone out of business or been acquired.
• Strategic Alliances: There's a strong trend of forming strategic alliances, both domestically and internationally (e.g., with Sun, Apollo, Silicon Graphics), to offer more complete solutions and expand market reach.

• Technological Trends:

  • A variety of CPU chips are used (proprietary, Motorola, National Semiconductor, Intel, Transputer), with a move towards RISC.
  • Many systems now incorporate vector processing alongside multi/parallel processing for increased performance.
  • Unix has become the dominant operating system, with companies shifting away from proprietary systems and often aiming for VAX-compatibility.
  • Fortran and C remain the most popular programming languages.
  • Demand for third-party applications, particularly database management, is growing.

• Competitive Landscape: Companies are adjusting pricing, often lowering it, in anticipation of second-generation products. While many target Digital's customer base in scientific/engineering, some are expanding into business and transaction processing. Major computer companies like IBM, AT&T, Data General, Honeywell, and Unisys have research efforts in parallel processing, but few have dedicated commercial minisupercomputer products as of 1987 (IBM's 3090 offers a vector facility, and Gould introduced its NPL family of minisupers).