The PVM systems: An in-depth analysis and documenting study -- Concise edition

PVM (Parallel Virtual Machine) is a basic message-passing system for heterogeneous collections of networked computers, developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Tennessee and Emory University. This report is our ``third-party`` effort to answer most common questions about PVM, and to dispel many misconceptions regarding its capabilities. We strive to present an accurate assessment of the system, while adding our own opinions regarding the system, and offering a few suggestions for the future of the system. PVM version 2.4-1, the latest version at the time of the writing of this report, is summarized within this document; our forthcoming full report includes significantly more detailed information. Information on how to get the full report is included.