Research Initiation: Dependability and Performance Models for Parallel Computers

快速和准确的表征并行计算机是必不可少的，以找到他们适合不同的应用。提出的研究的主旨是分析和评估两类有前途的并行计算机的可靠性和性能问题。这些是多级互连网络（MIN）系统和超立方体系统。该研究旨在建立考虑计算单元和通信网络退化的完整系统模型。适用于并行处理领域的各种可靠性和性能度量用于描述这些体系结构。正在开发分析/模拟/混合模型，以计算可修复和不可修复系统的可靠性和与性能相关的可靠性参数。分析模型基于近似技术和马尔可夫方法。马尔可夫模型将作为一个程序包来实现，以研究这些系统的瞬态和稳态行为。虽然该包的结构将与CARE III/HARP有些相似，但它将具有诸如自动状态生成和性能预测等附加功能。这项研究的一个主要贡献将是一组工具的可用性，这些工具可用于评估一些现有的和正在发展的并行架构。

Fast and accurate characterization of parallel computers is essential in finding their suitability for different applications. The thrust of the proposed research is to analyze and evaluate the dependability and performance issues of two promising classes of parallel computers. These are multistage interconnection network (MIN) systems and hypercube systems. The research is aimed at developing complete system models considering the degradation of both computing elements and communication network. Various dependability and performance measures, applicable in the domain of parallel processing, are used to characterize these architectures. Analytical/simulation/hybrid models are being developed to compute the dependability and performance-related dependability parameters for both repairable and non-repairable systems. The analytical models are based on approximate techniques and Markovian approach. The Markov model will be implemented as a program package to study the transient and steady state behavior of these systems. While the structure of the package will be somewhat similar to those of CARE III/HARP, it will have additional features such as automatic state generation and performance prediction. A major contribution of this research will be the availability of a set of tools that can be used for the evaluation of some of the existing and evolving parallel architectures.