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       [_][_][_][_][_][_]                  THE GENESIS USER'S GROUP
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       [_][_][_][_][_][_]                        NEWSLETTER #5
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     [][][][][][][][][][][]                     AUGUST 13, 1995
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After more than two years of development and several months of beta testing, GENESIS version 2.0 is finally available on the babel ftp site. The complete distribution, including an expanded and revised manual and documentation is contained in the compressed tar file genesis.tar.Z (a link to archives/genesis2.0.tar.Z).

GENESIS 2.0 runs under UNIX on Sun (SunOS 4.x or Solaris 2.x), DECstation (Ultrix), Silicon Graphics (Irix 4.0.1 and up) or x86 PC (Linux or FreeBSD) machines with X-windows (versions X11R4, X11R5, and X11R6).

This version of GENESIS is known NOT to run on DEC Alphas (OSF1 v2 and v3), IBM RS6000s (AIX) and HPs (HPUX). These systems exhibit similar X11 problems which we hope to resolve in the next couple of months. Other platforms may be capable of running GENESIS, but the software has not been tested by Caltech outside of these environments.

The main babel directory also contains the first release of Parallel GENESIS, designed for networks of workstations (NOW), symmetric multiprocessors (SMP) and massively parallel processors (MPP). This release is known to run on SGI/Irix and has run on these workstations: Sun4/Solaris, Alpha/OSF1.3, DecStation/Ultrix4.3, Sun4/SunOS. It has run on these SMPs: SGI-Challenge/Irix 5.3, Sun4MP/Solaris. It will soon be ported to the Cray T3D/E MPP and later to Intel Paragon and IBM SP2 MPPs.

If you wish to compile the parallel libraries for GENESIS, you will need to download the following files, in addition to the GENESIS 2.0 distribution:

        pargenesis.R1.tar.Z     - parlib source
        pvm3.3.6.tar.Z          - pvm3.3.6 source
        pvm_userguide.ps.Z      - pvm user's guide

Parallel GENESIS is expected to be of use for simulations which must be run many times independently e.g., parameter-search, monte-carlo. It will also be of use for large scale models that do not fit in the memory of a single workstation, especially network models. The primary user-level changes are the extension of the script language to include some parallel programming constructs, the provision of GENESIS messages to cross cpu boundaries, and the use of the PVM parallel software layer.

This release of the parallel library is primarily for experienced GENESIS users and developers. As the first release, it undoubtedly contains bugs and inadequacies. A test suite is included to help verify that the system is working. We solicit problem reports and suggestions for useful features.

Improvements and New Features in GENESIS 2.0:

• rewritten source code provides a more portable, stable and consistent system.
• revised command set and scripting language provides more consistent command names and command options, and consistent syntax.
• script converter program translates GENESIS 1 scripts to GENESIS 2
• now runs on 486 and Pentium PC's under Linux and FreeBSD
• new treatment of synaptic connections eases the construction of network models
• extended object facility allows the creation of new GENESIS objects at the script level
• includes simulation scripts for all tutorials and examples used in ``The Book of GENESIS''.
• completely revised and expanded manual and on-line help
• includes the first release of a parallel processing capability, allowing a model to be partitioned and run on workstation clusters and on parallel computers. Single simulations can be parallelized and automated searches of parameter space can be performed in parallel.
• includes a suite of benchmarks ("Rallpacks") used for evaluating GENESIS and other neural simulators for speed and accuracy.

The XODUS graphical interface has been completely rewritten featuring:

• independence from the Athena widget set, for increased portability and a more attractive appearance
• greater interaction with simulations using the mouse (rescaling of graphs by click and drag, restructuring of simulation elements with drag and drop operations, etc.)
• new XODUS widgets and extended capabilities of existing ones allow improved visualization of simulation results

Accessing babel:

You can access the babel directories by ftp to babel.bbb.caltech.edu, with username "babel" and password "babelon". As before, we have no objections if this ftp account is used by other GENESIS users with whom you work. However, we ask you not to give out this access information indiscriminately.

The top directory ("/") is the main BABEL directory. You can use "ls" or "dir" to see what else is there, and "cd" to navigate through the directories. The README file describes the organization of the BABEL directories, and each subdirectory has ists own README file.

Dave Beeman - GENESIS Users Group
(dbeeman@dogstar.colorado.edu)
GENESIS WWW site - http://www.bbb.caltech.edu/GENESIS
Postings to babelnews: babelnews@babel.bbb.caltech.edu
To communicate with babel: babel@babel.bbb.caltech.edu