Environment for multiprocessor simulator development

Abstract

Performance estimation is essential for designing and investigating new architectures including multiprocessors. Software simulation is one of the most common methods, since there is no limitation on device technology nor hardware configuration. Although lots of software simulators have been developed and used, they must be modified for each distinct target system. For designers of new architectures, it is often a cumbersome job. ISIS, an architecture independent simulation kit for multiprocessors, is developed so as to reduce such designers load. It includes various small simulators called Units corresponding to processors, buses, memories, caches and I/O devices. ISIS users can build simulators for their original target architectures only by connecting Units each other. The implementation cost is much reduced with little runtime overhead. A sample instruction-level multiprocessor simulator which has 4 processors can be executed 40000 to 70000 steps per second. This paper also reports experimental results of ISIS in various research projects.