What is the meaning of the words from the title, “the sound of one network clapping?” This phrase means that the CM-5 has a traditional point-to-point message-passing network and a new global broadcasting network between processors, and these two networks cooperate. This approach to networking is only one new feature of the CM-5. A tutorial on the  design  philosophy of the CM-5 is presented in this videotape using a sequence of graphics. This tutorial is a clear and intuitive way for a person who is not familiar with parallel processing systems to learn the basics of massively parallel systems and the CM-5 architecture. The unique features of the CM-5, such as its combination of the advantages of SIMD and MIMD; the fat-tree routing network; the control and computation processors for competition and cooperation, respectively; its enhanced I/O capabilities; and its parallel data model for software, are described with clear and concise examples.

The general audience receives a vivid view of the design philosophy and a comparison with other machines such as the Intel iPSC, nCUBE, and Cray. The comparisons with the other computer systems to illustrate the absolute advantages of the CM-5 are not convincing, however. I recommend this videotape as a tutorial introduction to parallel processing system architecture or programming; it is especially suitable for users of the CM-5 who wish to grasp its architecture and advantages.