Basic HTML version of Foils prepared August 23 1996

Foil 2 Some Key Observations on PetaSoft Software

From Software Strategy for JNAC (PetaFlops) Initiative JNAC (PetaFlops) Presentation -- August 28,1996. by Geoffrey C. Fox


All proposed hardware architectures have a complex memory hierarchy which should be abstracted with a software architecture
  • Consisting of a mix of machine specific and generic levels with well defined ADI's or Abstract Device Interfaces
  • Management of latency with concurent threads or otherwise critical
This implies a layered software architecture reflected in all components
  • Compiler Language and Runtime, Tools, Systems Software etc.
The Software Architecture should be defined early on so that hardware and software respect it!
  • JNAC Architecture Review Board will be responsible for interfaces and evaluating compliance with them
Users and Compilers must be able to have full control of data movement and placement in all parts of petaflop system
Size and Complex Memory Structure of PetaFlop machines represent major challenges in scaling existing Software Concepts



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