DMTCP: Checkpoint-Restart on the Desktop

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Title: DMTCP: Checkpoint-Restart on the DesktopPI: Gene CoopermanNSF Proposal Number: 0960978ABSTRACT: This work builds upon the existing open source, user-space DMTCP packagefor transparent, distributed checkpointing. Three goals will be accomplished:(i) checkpoint-restart of long-running computations on the desktop;(ii) save-restore of interactive software packages; and (iii) a universalreversible debugger. The first two goals will allow software developmentteams to add to their package a reliable "save workspace" feature --- withno requirement for a kernel module or other privileged operations.The third goal is to enhance any debugger with reversibility (e.g. aback-step command), and with a reverse expression watchpoint command tomove backwards from a software error to the original software fault.INTELLECTUAL MERIT:While checkpointing has existed for over 20 years, earlier packageswere difficult to maintain. The unprivileged, user-space design ofDMTCP has a five-year track record. It is ideal for integration intoother software, where any end-user requirement for installation of akernel module or other administrative privilege is incompatible withwidespread distribution. Finally, DMTCP is the first package able todirectly checkpoint a gdb session (the gdb process and its target process)-- a key feature for the envisioned new type of reversible debugger.BROADER IMPACT:Checkpointing and process migration have long been of interest for scienceand engineering, but too often suffered from software fragility or specialrequirements. The DMTCP approach removes these obstacles. Further,the wider use of ``time-traveling (reversible) debuggers'' will greatlyaccelerate software development due to the greater ease of finding bugs.A NIST report estimates the cost of software bugs to the economy at$59.5 billion per year. Finally, the excitement factor of checkpoint-restarton the desktop helps attract and motivate students toward the learningof sometimes arcane systems issues in this critical technology.