dtj v09-01 1997

This document is an issue of the Digital Technical Journal (Volume 9, Number 1, 1997), focusing on innovations in computer performance, availability, and development tools.

The key technical papers summarized include:

• DIGITAL FX!32: A software product that combines emulation and binary translation to enable 32-bit Windows NT applications (originally for Intel x86) to run transparently and efficiently on Alpha-based Windows NT systems. It aims for performance comparable to native x86 systems.
• DIGITAL Visual Fortran: Introduces the Fortran Module Wizard, a tool within this integrated development environment (combining Digital Fortran 90 and Microsoft Developer Studio) that simplifies Fortran applications' access to dynamic link libraries (DLLs) and COM-based servers.
• MEMORY CHANNEL 2: Describes a second-generation, high-performance, shared-memory cluster interconnect with a crossbar design, achieving low latency (under 2.2 microseconds) and high bisection bandwidth (1,000 MB/s to 2,000 MB/s) for parallel computing.
• Integrating ObjectBroker and DCE Security: Explores the integration of ObjectBroker middleware with the Distributed Computing Environment's Generic Security Service API (GSS-API) to enhance data security in distributed heterogeneous systems.
• A 160-MHz, 32-b, 0.5-W CMOS RISC Microprocessor (StrongARM): Presents Digital's StrongARM microprocessor, designed for high performance (160 MHz) and low power consumption (0.5W) primarily for handheld devices, implementing the ARM V4 instruction set.