Abstract
This paper uses two electromagnetic simulations to examine some performance and compiler issues on a Beowulf-class computer. This type of computer, built from mass-market, commodity, off-the-shelf components, has limited communications performance and therefore also has a limited regime of codes for which it is suitable. This paper first shows that these codes fall within this regime, and then examines performance data. Comparisons are made between a Beowulf, a Cray T3D, and a Cray T3E, examining execution time, performance scaling, compiler choices, and the use of some hand-tuned optimizations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Berenger, J.-P. (1994). A perfectly matched layer for the absorption of electromagnetic waves. J. Comp. Physics, 114:185–200.
Giest, A., Beguelin, A., Dongarra, J., Jiang, W., Manchek, R., and Sunderam, V. (1994). PVM: A Users’s Guide and Tutorial for Networked and Parallel Computing. The MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass.
Husain, K., Parker, T., McKinnon, P., McMullin, R., Treijs, E., and Pfister, R. (1996). Red Hat Linux Unleashed. Sams Publishing, Indianapolis, Ind.
Imbriale, W. and Cwik, T. (1994). A simple physical optics algorithm perfect for parallel computing architecture. 10th Annual Review of Progress in Appl. Comp. Electromag., pages 434–441.
Imbriale, W. and Hodges, R. (1991). Linear phase approximation in the triangular facet near-field physical optics computer program. Appl. Comp. Electromag. Society Journal, 6:74–85.
Katz, D., Cwik, T., Kwan, B., Lou, J., Springer, P., Sterling, T., and Wang, P. (1998). An assessment of a Beowulf system for a wide class of analysis and design software. Advances in Engineering Software, 29. To appear.
Snir, M., Otto, S., Huss-Lederman, S., Walker, D., and Dongarra, J. (1996). MPI: The Complete Reference. The MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass.
Taflove, A. (1995). Computational Electrodynamics: The Finite-Difference Time-Domain Method. Artech House, Norwood, Mass.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Katz, D.S., Cwik, T., Sterling, T. (1998). An Examination of the Performance of Two Electromagnetic Simulations on a Beowulf-Class Computer. In: Schaeffer, J. (eds) High Performance Computing Systems and Applications. The Springer International Series in Engineering and Computer Science, vol 478. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5611-4_19
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5611-4_19
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7567-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-5611-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive