Visualization and performance prediction of multithreaded Solarisprograms by tracing kernel threads

摘要

Efficient performance tuning of parallel programs is often hard.We present a performance prediction and visualization tool called VPPB.Based on a monitored uni-processor execution, VPPB shows the (predicted)behaviour of a multithreaded program using any number of processors andthe program behaviour is visualized as a graph. The first version ofVPPB was unable to handle I/O operations. This version has, by animproved tracing technique, added the possibility to trace activities atthe kernel level as well. Thus, VPPB is now able to trace various I/Oactivities, e.g., manipulation of OS internal buffers, physical diskI/O, socket I/O, and RPC. VPPB allows flexible performance tuning ofparallel programs developed for shared memory multiprocessors using astandardized environment; C/C++ programs that uses the thread package inSolaris 2.X