Using cellular automata for parallel simulation of laser dynamics with dynamic load balancing

We present an analysis of the feasibility of executing a parallel bioinspired model of laser dynamics, based on cellular automata (CA), on the usual target platform of this kind of applications: a heterogeneous non-dedicated cluster. As this model employs a synchronous CA, using the single program,...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Guisado, J. L., de Vega, F. Fernandez., Morales, F. Jimenez., Iskra, K. A., Sloot, Peter M. A.
Other Authors: School of Computer Engineering
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: 2013
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/84453
http://hdl.handle.net/10220/10120
Description
Summary:We present an analysis of the feasibility of executing a parallel bioinspired model of laser dynamics, based on cellular automata (CA), on the usual target platform of this kind of applications: a heterogeneous non-dedicated cluster. As this model employs a synchronous CA, using the single program, multiple data (SPMD) paradigm, it is not clear in advance if an appropriate efficiency can be obtained on this kind of platform. We have evaluated its performance including artificial load to simulate other tasks or jobs submitted by other users. A dynamic load balancing strategy with two main differences from most previous implementations of CA based models has been used. First, it is possible to migrate load to cluster nodes initially not belonging to the pool. Second, a modular approach is taken in which the model is executed on top of a dynamic load balancing tool – the Dynamite system – gaining flexibility. Very satisfactory results have been obtained, with performance increases from 60% to 80%.