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Automated Instrumentation, Monitoring and Visualization of PVM Programs Using AIMSWe present views and analysis of the execution of several PVM (Parallel Virtual Machine) codes for Computational Fluid Dynamics on a networks of Sparcstations, including: (1) NAS Parallel Benchmarks CG and MG; (2) a multi-partitioning algorithm for NAS Parallel Benchmark SP; and (3) an overset grid flowsolver. These views and analysis were obtained using our Automated Instrumentation and Monitoring System (AIMS) version 3.0, a toolkit for debugging the performance of PVM programs. We will describe the architecture, operation and application of AIMS. The AIMS toolkit contains: (1) Xinstrument, which can automatically instrument various computational and communication constructs in message-passing parallel programs; (2) Monitor, a library of runtime trace-collection routines; (3) VK (Visual Kernel), an execution-animation tool with source-code clickback; and (4) Tally, a tool for statistical analysis of execution profiles. Currently, Xinstrument can handle C and Fortran 77 programs using PVM 3.2.x; Monitor has been implemented and tested on Sun 4 systems running SunOS 4.1.2; and VK uses XIIR5 and Motif 1.2. Data and views obtained using AIMS clearly illustrate several characteristic features of executing parallel programs on networked workstations: (1) the impact of long message latencies; (2) the impact of multiprogramming overheads and associated load imbalance; (3) cache and virtual-memory effects; and (4) significant skews between workstation clocks. Interestingly, AIMS can compensate for constant skew (zero drift) by calibrating the skew between a parent and its spawned children. In addition, AIMS' skew-compensation algorithm can adjust timestamps in a way that eliminates physically impossible communications (e.g., messages going backwards in time). Our current efforts are directed toward creating new views to explain the observed performance of PVM programs. Some of the features planned for the near future include: (1) ConfigView, showing the physical topology of the virtual machine, inferred using specially formatted IP (Internet Protocol) packets: and (2) LoadView, synchronous animation of PVM-program execution and resource-utilization patterns.
Document ID
20020010585
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Mehra, Pankaj
(RECOM Technologies, Inc. Moffett Field, CA United States)
VanVoorst, Brian
(RECOM Technologies, Inc. Moffett Field, CA United States)
Yan, Jerry
(RECOM Technologies, Inc. Moffett Field, CA United States)
Lum, Henry, Jr.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1994
Subject Category
Fluid Mechanics And Thermodynamics
Meeting Information
Meeting: 1994 Simulation Multi Conference
Location: Oakridge, TN
Country: United States
Start Date: May 19, 1994
End Date: May 20, 1994
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 509-10-31
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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