PACE - A toolset for the performance prediction of parallel and distributed systems

This paper describes a methodology that provides detailed predictive perfor mance information throughout the software design and implementation cycles. It is structured around a hierarchy of performance models that describe th e computing system in terms of its software, parallelization, and hardware components. The methodology is illustrated with an implementation, the perf ormance analysis and characterization environment (PACE) system, which prov ides information concerning execution time, scalability, and resource use. A principal aim of the work is to provide a capability for rapid calculatio n of relevant performance numbers without sacrificing accuracy. The predict ive nature of the approach provides both pre- and postimplementation analys es and allows implementation alternatives to be explored prior to the commi tment of an application to a system. Because of the relatively fast analysi s times, these techniques can be used at runtime to assist in application s teering and scheduling with reference to dynamically changing systems and m etacomputing.