A tool for efficient execution of SPMD applications on multicore clusters

Abstract

Abstract A challenge for parallel programmers is to efficiently execute traditional MPI applications, designed to be run in a cluster of single core nodes, on a multicore cluster. Multicore clusters include communication heterogeneities which have to be handled carefully to improve efficiency and speedup. This research presents an execution tool developed for SPMD applications which is focused on managing communications heterogeneities, distributing the workload among cores and enhancing parallel performance on multicore clusters. Our tool has been designed through using an execution methodology which includes mapping and scheduling strategies. The tool integrates five modules which give programmers a method to execute their applications efficiently. This tool is centered on improving SPMD applications designed to use MPI for communications. These applications were selected because they are the most commonly used in parallel computing. Also, these applications are chosen due to their data synchronization and communications volumes which can generate communication imbalance issues. The novel contribution of this tool is to permit programmers to find a minimum execution time, while the efficiency level is maintained over a defined threshold. Our tool has been tested in different multicore clusters and with a set of scientific applications. The results obtained show a considerable improvement in the applications efficiency when the tool is applied.