Computing in Networks: Active System Area Networks

计算和通信的融合产生了基于网络的应用程序的爆炸式增长。可以从基于Web的应用程序、交互式模拟、游戏、可视化和协作环境中获得许多示例。目前开发基于网络的应用程序的方法仍然基于以CPU为中心的模型，使用针对单处理器或小规模多处理器应用程序优化的节点体系结构。这可能会导致分布式application.This项目的显着的低效率探索的架构，为新兴的基于网络的应用程序的支持，其中选定的应用程序级的计算在网络接口（NI）内执行。重点是onnetworks的工作站（现在），已成为一个可行的高性能计算车辆。在此范围内，该项目将支持具有大量计算和数据操作需求的应用程序.这些高性能程序来自三个不同的应用领域：科学模拟，计算机视觉和图像处理，以及计算机图形学。支持这些类程序的方法的独特方面是使用可扩展的网络接口，其中扩展涉及在NI上驻留的低成本微处理器和以现场可编程门阵列（FPGA）形式的附加可编程和NI相关硬件上执行的程序。具体而言，该项目将演示（1）使用FPGA实现数据密集型计算，（2）使用NI的微处理器处理相关的元信息，并执行计算非密集型操作，最好在“接近”网络时执行。通过开发一个灵活的、可扩展的虚拟通信机来实现NI的可扩展性。该项目涉及主动系统区域网络（ASAN）等增强型网络，主要研究问题是：（1）理解和证明主动系统区域网络比主机CPU更有效地执行选定计算和服务的能力，并探索将某些功能从主机CPU卸载到主动系统区域网络的影响和权衡;（2）开发编程模型，使ASAN的计算资源能够有效和特定于应用程序的使用，（3）建立一个低开销、易扩展的ASAN软件体系结构。它包括一个测试平台的建设，实施选定的NI扩展使用的三个类的并行/分布式应用程序的研究，在这项工作和性能评估所产生的系统/应用程序的性能。该方法的成功演示将对未来多媒体网络应用的设计、优化和支持方式产生重大影响。

The confluence of computing and communication has produced an explosion of network-based applications. Numerous examples can be drawn from web-based applications, interactive simulations, gaming,visualization, and collaborative environments. Current approaches to the development of network-based applications are still based on a CPU-centric model using node architectures optimized for uniprocessoror small-scale multiprocessor applications. This can lead to significant inefficiencies for distributed applications.This project explores an architecture for the support of emerging network-based applications whereby selected application-level computations are executed within network interfaces (NIs). The focus is onnetworks of workstations (NOW) that have emerged as a viable high performance computational vehicle. Within this context the project will support applications with substantial computation and data manipulationrequirements. Such high performance programs are drawn from three different application domains: scientific simulation, computer vision and image processing, and computer graphics. The unique aspect of theapproach to supporting these classes of programs is the use of extensible network interfaces, where extension concerns programs executed both on the low cost microprocessors resident on NIs and on additional, programmable and NI-associated hardware in the form of field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Specifically, the project will demonstrate (1) the use of FPGAs to implement data-intensivecomputations and (2) the use of the NIs' microprocessors to handle associated meta-information and perform computationally non-intensive operations best performed "close" to the network. Extensibility for NIs will be attained by development of a flexible and extensible virtual communication machine. The project refers to such enhanced networks as Active System Area Networks (ASANs).The key research issues are (1) to understand and demonstrate an ASAN's ability to perform selected computations and services more efficiently than host CPUs and to explore the effects and trade-offs of off-loading certain functionality from host CPUs to the ASAN, (2) to develop the programming model that enables the efficient and application-specific use of the ASAN's computational resources, and (3) to create an ASAN software architecture that is low overhead and easily extensible.The approach to the proposed research is experimental. It includes construction of a testbed, implementation of selected NI extensions for use by the three classes of parallel/distributed applications investigated in this work and performance evaluation of the resulting system/application performance. Successful demonstration of theapproach will have a major impact the way future multimedia network applications are designed, optimized, and supported.