Computing in Networks: Active System Area Networks

网络计算：主动系统区域网络

• 批准号: 9876573
• 负责人: Sudhakar Yalamanchili
• 金额: $ 93.94万
• 依托单位: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1999
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1999-04-01 至 2003-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9876573&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Computing; Networks; Active; System; Area

The confluence of computing and communication has produced an explosion of network-based applications. Numerous examples can be drawn from web-based applications, interactive simulations, gaming,visualization, and collaborative environments. Current approaches to the development of network-based applications are still based on a CPU-centric model using node architectures optimized for uniprocessoror small-scale multiprocessor applications. This can lead to significant inefficiencies for distributed applications.This project explores an architecture for the support of emerging network-based applications whereby selected application-level computations are executed within network interfaces (NIs). The focus is onnetworks of workstations (NOW) that have emerged as a viable high performance computational vehicle. Within this context the project will support applications with substantial computation and data manipulationrequirements. Such high performance programs are drawn from three different application domains: scientific simulation, computer vision and image processing, and computer graphics. The unique aspect of theapproach to supporting these classes of programs is the use of extensible network interfaces, where extension concerns programs executed both on the low cost microprocessors resident on NIs and on additional, programmable and NI-associated hardware in the form of field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Specifically, the project will demonstrate (1) the use of FPGAs to implement data-intensivecomputations and (2) the use of the NIs' microprocessors to handle associated meta-information and perform computationally non-intensive operations best performed "close" to the network. Extensibility for NIs will be attained by development of a flexible and extensible virtual communication machine. The project refers to such enhanced networks as Active System Area Networks (ASANs).The key research issues are (1) to understand and demonstrate an ASAN's ability to perform selected computations and services more efficiently than host CPUs and to explore the effects and trade-offs of off-loading certain functionality from host CPUs to the ASAN, (2) to develop the programming model that enables the efficient and application-specific use of the ASAN's computational resources, and (3) to create an ASAN software architecture that is low overhead and easily extensible.The approach to the proposed research is experimental. It includes construction of a testbed, implementation of selected NI extensions for use by the three classes of parallel/distributed applications investigated in this work and performance evaluation of the resulting system/application performance. Successful demonstration of theapproach will have a major impact the way future multimedia network applications are designed, optimized, and supported.

计算和通信的融合导致了基于网络的应用程序的爆炸式增长。可以从基于网络的应用程序、交互式模拟、游戏、可视化和协作环境中得出许多示例。当前开发基于网络的应用程序的方法仍然基于以 CPU 为中心的模型，使用针对单处理器或小型多处理器应用程序优化的节点架构。这可能会导致分布式应用程序效率显着降低。该项目探索了一种支持新兴的基于网络的应用程序的架构，其中选定的应用程序级计算在网络接口（NI）内执行。重点是工作站网络（NOW），它已成为一种可行的高性能计算工具。在此背景下，该项目将支持具有大量计算和数据操作要求的应用程序。这种高性能程序来自三个不同的应用领域：科学模拟、计算机视觉和图像处理以及计算机图形学。支持此类程序的方法的独特之处在于使用可扩展网络接口，其中扩展涉及在 NI 上驻留的低成本微处理器上执行的程序以及以现场可编程门的形式在附加可编程和 NI 相关硬件上执行的程序阵列（FPGA）。具体来说，该项目将演示 (1) 使用 FPGA 来实现数据密集型计算，以及 (2) 使用 NI 的微处理器来处理相关元信息并执行最好在“靠近”网络的情况下执行的非密集型计算操作。 NI 的可扩展性将通过开发灵活且可扩展的虚拟通信机来实现。该项目涉及诸如主动系统区域网络 (ASAN) 之类的增强型网络。关键研究问题是 (1) 理解和证明 ASAN 比主机 CPU 更高效地执行选定计算和服务的能力，并探索其影响和权衡。将某些功能从主机 CPU 卸载到 ASAN，(2) 开发编程模型，以实现 ASAN 计算资源的高效且特定于应用程序的使用，以及 (3) 创建低功耗的 ASAN 软件架构开销并且易于扩展。所提出的研究方法是实验性的。它包括构建测试平台、实施选定的 NI 扩展以供本工作中研究的三类并行/分布式应用程序使用，以及对所得系统/应用程序性能进行性能评估。该方法的成功演示将对未来多媒体网络应用的设计、优化和支持方式产生重大影响。