DSM64: A Distributed Shared Memory System in User-Space

<p>This paper presents DSM64: a lazy release consistent software distributed shared memory (SDSM) system built entirely in user-space. The DSM64 system is capable of executing threaded applications implemented with pthreads on a cluster of networked machines without any modifications to the target application. The DSM64 system features a centralized memory manager [1] built atop Hoard [2, 3]: a fast, scalable, and memory-efficient allocator for shared-memory multiprocessors.</p> <p>In my presentation, I present a SDSM system written in C++ for Linux operating systems. I discuss a straight-forward approach to implement SDSM systems in a Linux environment using system-provided tools and concepts avail- able entirely in user-space. I show that the SDSM system presented in this paper is capable of resolving page faults over a local area network in as little as 2 milliseconds.</p> <p>In my analysis, I present the following. I compare the performance characteristics of a matrix multiplication benchmark using various memory coherency models. I demonstrate that matrix multiplication benchmark using a LRC model performs orders of magnitude quicker than the same application using a stricter coherency model. I show the effect of coherency model on memory access patterns and memory contention. I compare the effects of different locking strategies on execution speed and memory access patterns. Lastly, I provide a comparison of the DSM64 system to a non-networked version using a system-provided allocator.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

MS in Computer Science

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Computer Science

Year dc:date.available

2012

Author dc:creator

• Holsapple, Stephen Alan

Contributors dc:contributor

• John Bellardo

• Memory Consistency
• Distributed Computing
• Distributed Shared Memory
• DSM
• Computer and Systems Architecture

Identifier

10.15368/theses.2012.40

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:theses-1767