Evaluation of Multiprocessor Interconnection Networks:
Project Overview
EMIN is a UK EPSRC funded project to evaluate multiprocessor
interconnection networks, carried out in the Department of Computer
Science at the University of Edinburgh. It is a component of an
ongoing long-term strategy to undertake quantitative evaluation of
computer architectures.
The EMIN project involves the evaluation of a variety of
multiprocessor interconnection networks. A simulation testbed
containing processor models, which can generate network activity
corresponding to that found in standard benchmarks used in the
evaluation of real parallel systems, has been set up. Each of the
different networks of interest can be instantiated in the testbed, and
its performance observed.
The Problem
Designing multiprocessor systems is complicated because of
the varied interactions between parallel software and hardware.
Evaluating the impact of design decisions on overall
performance is difficult. The EMIN project seeks to
address these issues by developing a simulation testbed for designing
and analysing multiprocessor interconnection network performance.
The Solution
Rather than apply a single technique to the problem,
a suite of design techniques has been used. The simplest
(and often overlooked) technique is spreadsheet
analysis. This enables quick broad brush comparisons
of networks. Microbenchmarks are
useful both for characterising network performance
and for providing data which is relevant to software.
Discrete event simulation is an extremely
powerful technique for evaluating performance
of complex interacting hardware/software systems;
we have developed DES techniques based on both
Java (
the Simjava library) and
C++ and threads (the
HASE++ library).
This document describes techniques for Interactive modelling of
interconnection network design based on Web technology. The issue of
technical documentation is interwoven with that of simulation,
allowing for active diagrams to explain complex models.
Visualisation
For a design tool to be effective, the turnaround time
must be small and the results must be visible and
understandable. Visualisation of simulation results
is therefore crucial. The following is a screen shot of a
visualisation tool
developed for viewing simulation results
as a timing diagram.
Simjava takes this one step further, and allows live simulations
to be included into documentation.
The Results
Fred Howell
- Computer Systems Group
- Department of Computer Science
- The University of Edinburgh
- King's Buildings
- Edinburgh EH9 3JZ
Last modified: Tue May 26 1997