A Combined Virtual Shared Memory and Network which Schedules

In this paper, we follow a new path to arrive at the idea of a COMA — a Cache Only Memory Architecture. We show how the evolution of another architecture (ADARC) leads quite naturally to the concept of a self-distributing data space, where the separate local memories, once augmented with special associative hardware, function as giant caches. Having come to the idea of COMA from an unusual route, we can cast a new perspective on this architectural concept, and show (1) how the same hardware that augments the memories can implement a high performance network from off-the-shelf components; (2) how this hardware can reduce false sharing by implementing variable size “cache lines”; and (3) most importantly, how a COMAbased self-distributingdata space, combined with structures from multithreaded architectures, leads naturally to automatic scheduling. The network thus provides a virtual shared memory where data and computation distribute themselves. This self-distribution is fully tra...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1997
• Where: EUROPDS
• Authors: Ronald Moore, Bernd Klauer, Klaus Waldschmidt
• Keywords: Cache Only Memory Architecture, Distributed And Parallel Computing, EUROPDS 1997, Separate Local Memories, Special Associative Hardware