Topic 2 Performance Prediction and Evaluation

Abstract

Parallel algorithms used to be evaluated using some version of the PRAM model where actual execution platforms are abstracted as ideal parallel machines. On the other hand the performance of hardware is often given in terms of individual pick performances which can be useless for actual applications. The real challenge for performance predictions and evaluations of parallel systems is to combine the top and low layers points of view, where congestions, controlmechanisms, failures or even breakdowns do alter the behavior of a large distributed platform running a parallel application. In many different ways, this challenge is addressed in all the papers presented in the track, using either new modelling techniques, or sophisticated measures, or experimental approaches.