Announcing a new version of Spread: 4.4.0 (Release Candidate #2) ...

Available for download from here: http://www.spread.org/download.html

Spread 4.4.0 RC2 http://www.spread.org

Spread Concepts LLC is happy to announce the release of a =

new release candidate version, 4.4.0 RC2, of the Spread toolkit.  This rele=
ase
candidate has several minor improvements and bug fixes beyond 4.4.0 RC1.
We expect to release a final version of 4.4.0 shortly if we get no negative=
 feedback
from the community.  We will also build executables for the final release f=
or Mac and
Windows.  If you=92d like an executable for those platforms to test before =
the final =

release, then please contact us at [email protected].

The Spread 4.4 release is an important release that incorporates a new,
accelerated ring protocol.  This protocol is tailored for data center netwo=
rks =

and can provide 30%-50% higher throughput and 20-35% lower latency in moder=
n =

local area networks  This version also supports Spread's old ring protocol.

A new AcceleratedRing parameter has been added to Spread's configuration fi=
le.
If this parameter is set to true, then the accelerated ring protocol will b=
e used.  =

If it is set to false, then the old ring protocol will be used.  If it is l=
eft =

unspecified, then Spread will try to determine which protocol is likely bet=
ter for =

your environment.  If your configuration looks like it might be a LAN (i.e.=
 - all =

daemon IPs are in the same /16 network) rather than a WAN, then Spread will=
 use =

the accelerated protocol.  Otherwise, it will use the original protocol.  A=
ll the
daemons in a configuration must use the same ring protocol.  Daemons with d=
ifferent
protocols will refuse to communicate with one another.

A new AcceleratedWindow parameter, with a value between 0 and the value of =
the =

PersonalWindow parameter, should be specified as a flow control parameter i=
n the =

spread.conf file.  The higher the parameter the more acceleration is expect=
ed --
up to a point.  The sample.spread.conf file included in this release has =

example settings for these parameters that enable the Accelerated Ring =

protocol, as well as a description of their functions.

The main new features of this release are:

1) Accelerated Ring protocol to improve both throughput and latency in loca=
l area networks.

2) Redesigned message-packing, reducing overhead for small messages.

3) Updated MSVS project files for Windows source builds.

4) Several bugfixes that make Spread less likely to exit under high loss.

5) Expanded and improved logging.

For details check the Readme.txt file. =


This release does not include any API changes, so applications should
be able to be relinked or recompiled with the new Spread library without
changes. =


The Spread toolkit provides a high performance messaging service
that is resilient to faults across local and wide area networks.
Spread functions as a unified message bus for distributed applications, =

and provides highly tuned application-level multicast, group communication, =

and point to point support. Spread services range from reliable messaging =

to fully ordered messages with virtual synchrony delivery guarantees, even =
in case =

of computer failures and network partitions.

Cheers!

-----
John Lane Schultz
Spread Concepts LLC
Cell: 443 838 2200