K9: a simulator of distributed-memory parallel processors

• Main Authors: Beadle, P., Pommerell, C., Annaratone, M.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical models; Animation; Communication channels; Computer systems organization > Architectures > Parallel architectures; Computer systems organization > Dependable and fault-tolerant systems and networks; Computing methodologies > Modeling and simulation; General and reference > Cross-computing tools and techniques > Performance; Networks > Network performance evaluation; Software and its engineering > Software organization and properties > Contextual software domains > Operating systems > Memory management > Distributed memory; Software packages; Timing; Topology; Visualization
• DOI: 10.1145/76263.76350

K9 is a software package for the simulation and performance evaluation of distributed-memory parallel processors (DMPPs). It is written in C++ and runs on Sequent Symmetry and SUN-3. K9 provides the user with four building-blocks (processor cells, communication channels, multi-port shared-memories, and I/O processors), and one abstraction mechanism (the DMPP interconnection topology). Application code for K9 can be written in C++ or C. When timing analysis is turned on, the simulation runs between 10 and 20 times slower than if comparable code were executed by the host. When timing analysis is turned off, the simulation proceeds as fast as comparable code running on the host. K9's fast execution allows the simulation of large application programs. Finally, a graphical interface visualizes-with animation-different parameters of the DMPP architecture (hot spots phenomena, load-balancing problems, and so on).