Implementation and Evaluation of a Configuration Interface for Performance Optimization of Message-based Inter-process Communication

Background

Currently, the definition of the upcoming MPI 3.0 standard is under active discussion by the respective working groups of the MPI-Forum. One of these working groups deals with the definition of an additional interface that should help to enhance the interaction between MPI implementations and additional tools like debugger and profiler. In this context, it is intended to offer an additional set of tool-oriented functions within a separate namespace, namely the MPIT configuration and performance interface. In contrast to the traditional PMPI profiling interface, that simply offers alternate entry points to MPI functions, the MPIT configuration and performance interface is rather a generic information interface that allows for querying MPI-internal configuration variables and performance counters. While the set of routines of this new interface is to be defined by the new MPI standard, names and intent of the accessible configuration and performance variables are left to the respective MPI implementation. For that reason, variable names and data types have to be retrievable via the MPIT interface, too, as well as their actual meaning. However, the question arises how a certain tool should cope with these library-specific configuration and performance variables.

The main task of this thesis is to evaluate the capabilities and potentials of this new configuration interface with respect to performance optimization of MPI-based inter-process communication.

Assingment

• Identification of crucial configuration parameters
• Implementation of the key part of the MPIT interface
• Development of an MPIT-based performance optimization tool

Profil of requirements

• Good programming skills in C/C++
• Basic skills in the area of parallel computing
• Competence to work autonomous and creative

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