The resource sharing system: dynamic federate mapping for HLA-based distributed simulation

Abstract

Networks of workstations have become a popular architecture for distributed simulation due to their high availability as opposed to specialized multiprocessor computers. Networks of workstations are also a well-suited framework for distributed simulation systems based on the High Level Architecture (HLA). However, using workstations in a distributed simulation system may eventually effect the availability of computing resources for the users who need their computers as working tools. Thus, for coarse grained distributed simulation it may be desirable to let the users control to what extent their workstations should participate in a distributed simulation. In this paper, we present a resource sharing system (RSS) that provides a client user interface on each potentially participating workstation. With the RSS clients, users of workstations can control the availability of their computer for the HLA simulation federation. An RSS manager keeps track of available computing resources and balances the participating HLA federates among the available workstations.