Abstract
In an intelligent memory architecture, the main memory of a computer is enhanced with many simple processors. The result is a highly-parallel, heterogeneous machine that is able to exploit computation in the main memory. While several instantiations of this architecture have been proposed, the question of how to effectively program them with little effort has remained a major challenge. In this paper, we show how to effectively hand-program an intelligent memory architecture at a high level and with very modest effort. We use FlexRAM as a prototype architecture. To program it, we propose a family of high-level compiler directives inspired by OpenMP called CFlex. Such directives enable the processors in memory to execute the program in cooperation with the main processor. In addition, we propose libraries of highly-optimized functions called Intelligent Memory Operations (IMOs). These functions program the processors in memory through CFlex, but make them completely transparent to the programmer. Simulation results show that, with CFlex and IMOs, a server with 64 simple processors in memory runs on average 10 times faster than a conventional server. Moreover, a set of conventional programs with 240 lines on average are transformed into CFlex parallel form with only 7 CFlex directives and 2 additional statements on average.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages | 49-60 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| State | Published - Jul 28 2003 |
| Event | 2003 ACM SIGPLAN Symposium on Principles and Practice of Parallel Programming - San Diego, CA, United States Duration: Jun 11 2003 → Jun 13 2003 |
Other
| Other | 2003 ACM SIGPLAN Symposium on Principles and Practice of Parallel Programming |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| City | San Diego, CA |
| Period | 6/11/03 → 6/13/03 |
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Keywords
- Compiler directives
- Intelligent memory architecture
- Parallel languages
- Programming heterogeneous computers
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Software
Cite this
Programming the FlexRAM parallel intelligent memory system. / Fraguela, Basilio B.; Renau, Jose; Feautrier, Paul; Padua, David A; Torrellas, Josep.
2003. 49-60 Paper presented at 2003 ACM SIGPLAN Symposium on Principles and Practice of Parallel Programming, San Diego, CA, United States.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
}
TY - CONF
T1 - Programming the FlexRAM parallel intelligent memory system
AU - Fraguela, Basilio B.
AU - Renau, Jose
AU - Feautrier, Paul
AU - Padua, David A
AU - Torrellas, Josep
PY - 2003/7/28
Y1 - 2003/7/28
N2 - In an intelligent memory architecture, the main memory of a computer is enhanced with many simple processors. The result is a highly-parallel, heterogeneous machine that is able to exploit computation in the main memory. While several instantiations of this architecture have been proposed, the question of how to effectively program them with little effort has remained a major challenge. In this paper, we show how to effectively hand-program an intelligent memory architecture at a high level and with very modest effort. We use FlexRAM as a prototype architecture. To program it, we propose a family of high-level compiler directives inspired by OpenMP called CFlex. Such directives enable the processors in memory to execute the program in cooperation with the main processor. In addition, we propose libraries of highly-optimized functions called Intelligent Memory Operations (IMOs). These functions program the processors in memory through CFlex, but make them completely transparent to the programmer. Simulation results show that, with CFlex and IMOs, a server with 64 simple processors in memory runs on average 10 times faster than a conventional server. Moreover, a set of conventional programs with 240 lines on average are transformed into CFlex parallel form with only 7 CFlex directives and 2 additional statements on average.
AB - In an intelligent memory architecture, the main memory of a computer is enhanced with many simple processors. The result is a highly-parallel, heterogeneous machine that is able to exploit computation in the main memory. While several instantiations of this architecture have been proposed, the question of how to effectively program them with little effort has remained a major challenge. In this paper, we show how to effectively hand-program an intelligent memory architecture at a high level and with very modest effort. We use FlexRAM as a prototype architecture. To program it, we propose a family of high-level compiler directives inspired by OpenMP called CFlex. Such directives enable the processors in memory to execute the program in cooperation with the main processor. In addition, we propose libraries of highly-optimized functions called Intelligent Memory Operations (IMOs). These functions program the processors in memory through CFlex, but make them completely transparent to the programmer. Simulation results show that, with CFlex and IMOs, a server with 64 simple processors in memory runs on average 10 times faster than a conventional server. Moreover, a set of conventional programs with 240 lines on average are transformed into CFlex parallel form with only 7 CFlex directives and 2 additional statements on average.
KW - Compiler directives
KW - Intelligent memory architecture
KW - Parallel languages
KW - Programming heterogeneous computers
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M3 - Paper
AN - SCOPUS:0038378394
SP - 49
EP - 60
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