Using scheduler information to achieve optimal barrier synchronization performance

Parallel programs frequently use barriers to synchronize successive steps in an algorithm. In the presence of multiprogramming the choice of spinning versus blocking barriers can have a significant impact on performance. We demonstrate how competitive spinning techniques previously designed for lock...

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Veröffentlicht in:SIGPLAN notices 1993-07, Vol.28 (7), p.64-72
Hauptverfasser: Kontothanassis, Leonidas, Wisniewski, Robert W.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:Parallel programs frequently use barriers to synchronize successive steps in an algorithm. In the presence of multiprogramming the choice of spinning versus blocking barriers can have a significant impact on performance. We demonstrate how competitive spinning techniques previously designed for locks can be extended to barriers, and we evaluate their performance. We design an additional competitive spinning technique that adapts more quickly in a dynamic environment. We then propose and evaluate a new method that obtains better peformance than previous techniques by using scheduler information to decide between spinning and blocking. The scheduler information technique makes optimal choices incurring little overhead.
ISSN:0362-1340
1558-1160
DOI:10.1145/173284.155339