A Framework for Automatic Adaptation of Tunable Distributed Applications

• Published in: Cluster computing 2001-03, Vol.4 (1), p.49-62
• Main Authors: Chang, Fangzhe, Karamcheti, Vijay
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation; Availability; Computer networks; Configurations; Decisions; Heterogeneity; Image processing
• ISSN: 1386-7857; 1573-7543
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1011464226688

Increased platform heterogeneity and varying resource availability in distributed systems motivate the design of resource-aware applications, which ensure a desired performance level by continuously adapting their behavior to changing resource characteristics. In this paper, we describe an application-independent adaptation framework that simplifies the design of resource-aware applications. This framework eliminates the need for adaptation decisions to be explicitly programmed into the application by relying on two novel components: (1) a tunability interface, which exposes adaptation choices in the form of alternate application configurations while encapsulating core application functionality; and (2) a virtual execution environment, which emulates application execution under diverse resource availability enabling off-line collection of information about resulting behavior. Together, these components permit automatic run-time decisions on when to adapt by continuously monitoring resource conditions and application progress, and how to adapt by dynamically choosing an application configuration most appropriate for the prescribed user preference. We evaluate the framework using an interactive distributed image visualization application and a parallel image processing application. The framework permits automatic adaptation to changes in execution environment characteristics such as available network bandwidth or data arrival pattern by choosing a different application configuration that satisfies user preferences of output quality and timeliness.