RPC or what?

[Patrick Hertel]

First some background:
 We are in the throws of moving to UNIX (that is to say if we could
 only be given the time). Here is the present situation. We run suites
 of operational batch jobs which transfer to each other something like
 this:
  
							  A
							  |
							  B---C---D
							  |
                          E---F---G
							  |
							  G

 These jobs run in batch on (basically) two machines a CDC 830 (NOS)
 and a Cray XMP (COS).

 We are moving to a mix of UNIX (all SysV) machines - a CDC 920
 (SGI/IRIX) a CDC 4680 (MIPS/EP/IX) and the new supercomputer is
 to be an HSX SX 3-44 (?).
 I would like to do the basic thing above but also add a bit more
 utility. i.e. Right now if job D depends on A B and C even if A
 B and C are independent of each other we need to run sequentially
 like this:

		  A--B--C--D

 Whereas something like this would be preferred:

		   A  B  C
		   |  |  |
		   -------
			  |
			  D

 Where A B C and D could all be on different machines. 
 All of the boxes will have NFS the HSX and MIPS boxes have NQS but
 not the SGI box.
 My question is - Is RPC the way to go with this and should NQS come
 into it at all. I am open to any advice specific to this or more 
 general in nature. 
 To save bandwidth I thank any all who reply in advance. Please use e-mail.
-- 
Pat Hertel                 Canadian Meteorological Centre
Analyst/Programmer         2121 N. Service Rd.        
phertel at cmc.aes.doe.ca     Dorval,Quebec             
Environment Canada         CANADA           H9P1J3