Run-time automatic performance tuning for multicore applications

Abstract

Multicore hardware and system software have become complex and differ from platform to platform. Parallel application performance optimization and portability are now a real challenge. In practice, the effects of tuning parameters are hard to predict. Programmers face even more difficulties when several applications run in parallel and influence each other indirectly. We tackle these problems with Perpetuum, a novel operating-system-based auto-tuner that is capable of tuning applications while they are running. We go beyond tuning one application in isolation and are the first to employ OS-based auto-tuning to improve system-wide application performance. Our fully functional auto-tuner extends the Linux kernel, and the application tuning process does not require any user involvement. General multicore applications are automatically re-tuned on new platforms while they are executing, which makes portability easy. Extensive case studies with real applications demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of our approach. Perpetuum realizes a first milestone in our vision to make every performance-critical multicore application auto-tuned by default. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.