Document DiRAC Performance Analysis Methodology - Task 006

Work Package: wp1.2

Progress

Fit to programme

This task has been identified by the working groups as part of the agenda behind WP 1.2. The task number is 006.

Description

Performance analysis is almost by definition a key component of High-Performance Computing (HPC) and so many different HPC centres and communities have some formal or informal methods for quantifying and analysing performance. The Tasks: WP1.2 006, 007 and 008 play a key role in collating preexisting expertise from different HPC communities of how performance analysis assessments are currently conducted.

We have been informed that DiRAC already have conducted ‘in house’ performance analyses though potentially without a formalised methodology or service and is hence not documented or hosted anywhere public. However, we have been informed that Simon Burbidge appears to be the main point of contact for this work. We propose that a member of SHAREing could interview Simon (and other performanceoriented members of DiRAC), to document DiRAC’s current methods for current performance assessments including:

1. How do they initialise this performance assessment? For example, what information is required from the user/developer - this has links to WP1.1 Task 002
2. Do they work from some informal performance methodology or standards?
3. How do they incorporate tools into this methodology? And which tools are they using?
4. What criteria do they have for establishing whether a code would benefit from porting to GPUs? This is crucial for understanding how performance assessments can be used in targeting particular hardware.

Outcomes

• A documented summary of the DiRAC performance analysis methods.
• By offering to document this on behalf of DiRAC, it is possible that, with the consent of DiRAC members, this could lead to a joint manuscript between DiRAC and SHAREing members