A RISC-V Simulator and Benchmark Suite for Designing and Evaluating Vector Architectures
A RISC-V Simulator and Benchmark Suite for Designing and Evaluating Vector Architectures
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用于设计和评估矢量架构的 RISC-V 模拟器和基准套件
DOI：
10.1145/3422667
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发表时间：
2020
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
A. Cristal
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Cristóbal Ramírez;César;Oscar Palomar;O. Unsal;M. A. Ramírez;A. Cristal
矢量体系结构缺乏研究工具。以ge5模拟器为例，它可能是计算机系统体系结构研究的领先平台。不幸的是，Gem5没有包含灵活且可定制的向量架构模型的可用发行版。因此，研究人员必须开发自己的仿真平台来验证他们的想法，这耗费了大量的研究时间。然而，一旦开发了基本的模拟器平台，另一个问题是：应该测试哪些应用程序来执行实验？缺乏矢量化的基准测试套件是另一个限制。针对这些问题，本文提出了一套用于设计和评估向量体系结构的工具。首先，通过增加可参数化的向量体系结构模型，对GIM5模拟器进行了扩展，以支持RISC-V向量指令的执行，以便设计者根据他们所追求的目标来评估不同的方法。其次，提出了一种新的向量化基准测试套件：由来自不同领域的7个数据并行应用程序组成的集合，这些应用程序可以根据向量体系结构中强调的模块进行分类。最后，重点研究了矢量化基准测试套件在基于Gem5的向量体系结构模型上的执行。该套件是该类别中的第一个套件，涵盖了不同矢量架构设计中可能出现的不同使用场景，例如主要专注于短矢量的嵌入式系统，或通常为大型矢量设计的高性能计算(HPC)。
Vector architectures lack tools for research. Consider the gem5 simulator, which is possibly the leading platform for computer-system architecture research. Unfortunately, gem5 does not have an available distribution that includes a flexible and customizable vector architecture model. In consequence, researchers have to develop their own simulation platform to test their ideas, which consume much research time. However, once the base simulator platform is developed, another question is the following: Which applications should be tested to perform the experiments? The lack of Vectorized Benchmark Suites is another limitation. To face these problems, this work presents a set of tools for designing and evaluating vector architectures. First, the gem5 simulator was extended to support the execution of RISC-V Vector instructions by adding a parameterizable Vector Architecture model for designers to evaluate different approaches according to the target they pursue. Second, a novel Vectorized Benchmark Suite is presented: a collection composed of seven data-parallel applications from different domains that can be classified according to the modules that are stressed in the vector architecture. Finally, a study of the Vectorized Benchmark Suite executing on the gem5-based Vector Architecture model is highlighted. This suite is the first in its category that covers the different possible usage scenarios that may occur within different vector architecture designs such as embedded systems, mainly focused on short vectors, or High-Performance-Computing (HPC), usually designed for large vectors.