Evaluation of a communication architecture by means of simulation

Abstract

The Oyster evaluation framework is developed to support high level simulation of computer architectures. A designer can make a simulation model of a proposed architecture, and gets feedback in the form of performance figures, and an analysis of the architecture. Oyster has a layered structure, allowing for both high level descriptions, low level specifications and the possibility to incorporate existing switch level simulators. As a case study, the framework is used to examine the interface between the data processor and the communication network of a distributed memory architecture, the PRISMA machine. A small parallel machine is simulated, the network is modeled at the packet level, the data processor is modeled at the instruction level. To get realistic results, the software running on the data processor is also simulated (application program plus run time support and operating system). In this experiment, the architecture is extended with specialized message passing hardware, and the potential benefits are evaluated. Both the models and the outcomes of this simulation experiment are presented.