Title: Seven-O'clock: a new distributed GVT algorithm using network atomic operations

Authors: D.W. Bauer Jr., C.D. Carothers

Addresses: The MITRE Corporation, 7515 Colshire Drive, McLean, VA 22102, USA. ' Department of Computer Science, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 Eighth Street, Troy NY 12180, USA

Abstract: In this paper we introduce a new concept, Network Atomic Operations (NAOs) to create a zero-cost consistent cut. Using NAOs, we define a wall clock time driven Global Virtual Time (GVT) algorithm called The Seven O|clock GVT algorithm that is an extension of Fujimoto|s shared memory GVT algorithm. Using this new GVT algorithm, we report good optimistic parallel performance on a cluster of Itanium-II quad processor systems as well as a dated cluster of 40 dual Pentium III systems for both benchmark applications such as PHOLD and real-world applications such as a large-scale TCP/IP internet model. In some cases, super-linear speedup is observed. The Seven O|clock GVT algorithm greatly simplifies processor synchronisation by creating a zero-cost |consistent cut| across the distributed simulation.

Keywords: distributed GVT; global virtual time; high performance computing; optimistic simulation; parallel simulation; network atomic operations; processor synchronisation; distributed simulation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSPM.2009.028622

International Journal of Simulation and Process Modelling, 2009 Vol.5 No.2, pp.79 - 94

Published online: 21 Sep 2009 *

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