Performance implications of virtualization and hyper-threading on high energy physics applications in a grid environment

The simulations used in the field of high energy physics are compute intensive and exhibit a high level of data parallelism. These features make such simulations ideal candidates for Grid computing. We are taking as an example the GEANT4 detector simulation used for physics studies within the ATLAS...

Popoln opis

Bibliografske podrobnosti
Main Authors: Gilbert, L, Tseng, J, Newman, R, Iqbal, S, Pepper, R, Celebioglu, O, Hsieh, J, Cobban, M
Format: Journal article
Jezik:English
Izdano: 2005
_version_ 1826269848072617984
author Gilbert, L
Tseng, J
Newman, R
Iqbal, S
Pepper, R
Celebioglu, O
Hsieh, J
Cobban, M
author_facet Gilbert, L
Tseng, J
Newman, R
Iqbal, S
Pepper, R
Celebioglu, O
Hsieh, J
Cobban, M
author_sort Gilbert, L
collection OXFORD
description The simulations used in the field of high energy physics are compute intensive and exhibit a high level of data parallelism. These features make such simulations ideal candidates for Grid computing. We are taking as an example the GEANT4 detector simulation used for physics studies within the ATLAS experiment at CERN. One key issue in Grid computing is that of network and system security, which can potentially inhibit the wide spread use of such simulations. Virtualization provides a feasible solution because it allows the creation of virtual compute nodes in both local and remote compute clusters, thus providing an insulating layer which can play an important role in satisfying the security concerns of all parties involved. However, it has performance implications. This study provides quantitative estimates of the visualization and hyper-threading overhead for GEANT on commodity clusters. Results show that virtualization has less than 15% run-time overhead, and that the best run time (with the non-SMP licence of ESX VMware) is achieved by using one virtual machine per CPU. We also observe that hyper-threading does not provide an advantage in this application. Finally, the effect of virtualization on run-time, throughput, mean response time and utilization is estimated using simulations.
first_indexed 2024-03-06T21:31:35Z
format Journal article
id oxford-uuid:44db0a84-08d8-415c-959c-ceda7bb2a5a2
institution University of Oxford
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-06T21:31:35Z
publishDate 2005
record_format dspace
spelling oxford-uuid:44db0a84-08d8-415c-959c-ceda7bb2a5a22022-03-26T15:04:12ZPerformance implications of virtualization and hyper-threading on high energy physics applications in a grid environmentJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:44db0a84-08d8-415c-959c-ceda7bb2a5a2EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2005Gilbert, LTseng, JNewman, RIqbal, SPepper, RCelebioglu, OHsieh, JCobban, MThe simulations used in the field of high energy physics are compute intensive and exhibit a high level of data parallelism. These features make such simulations ideal candidates for Grid computing. We are taking as an example the GEANT4 detector simulation used for physics studies within the ATLAS experiment at CERN. One key issue in Grid computing is that of network and system security, which can potentially inhibit the wide spread use of such simulations. Virtualization provides a feasible solution because it allows the creation of virtual compute nodes in both local and remote compute clusters, thus providing an insulating layer which can play an important role in satisfying the security concerns of all parties involved. However, it has performance implications. This study provides quantitative estimates of the visualization and hyper-threading overhead for GEANT on commodity clusters. Results show that virtualization has less than 15% run-time overhead, and that the best run time (with the non-SMP licence of ESX VMware) is achieved by using one virtual machine per CPU. We also observe that hyper-threading does not provide an advantage in this application. Finally, the effect of virtualization on run-time, throughput, mean response time and utilization is estimated using simulations.
spellingShingle Gilbert, L
Tseng, J
Newman, R
Iqbal, S
Pepper, R
Celebioglu, O
Hsieh, J
Cobban, M
Performance implications of virtualization and hyper-threading on high energy physics applications in a grid environment
title Performance implications of virtualization and hyper-threading on high energy physics applications in a grid environment
title_full Performance implications of virtualization and hyper-threading on high energy physics applications in a grid environment
title_fullStr Performance implications of virtualization and hyper-threading on high energy physics applications in a grid environment
title_full_unstemmed Performance implications of virtualization and hyper-threading on high energy physics applications in a grid environment
title_short Performance implications of virtualization and hyper-threading on high energy physics applications in a grid environment
title_sort performance implications of virtualization and hyper threading on high energy physics applications in a grid environment
work_keys_str_mv AT gilbertl performanceimplicationsofvirtualizationandhyperthreadingonhighenergyphysicsapplicationsinagridenvironment
AT tsengj performanceimplicationsofvirtualizationandhyperthreadingonhighenergyphysicsapplicationsinagridenvironment
AT newmanr performanceimplicationsofvirtualizationandhyperthreadingonhighenergyphysicsapplicationsinagridenvironment
AT iqbals performanceimplicationsofvirtualizationandhyperthreadingonhighenergyphysicsapplicationsinagridenvironment
AT pepperr performanceimplicationsofvirtualizationandhyperthreadingonhighenergyphysicsapplicationsinagridenvironment
AT celebiogluo performanceimplicationsofvirtualizationandhyperthreadingonhighenergyphysicsapplicationsinagridenvironment
AT hsiehj performanceimplicationsofvirtualizationandhyperthreadingonhighenergyphysicsapplicationsinagridenvironment
AT cobbanm performanceimplicationsofvirtualizationandhyperthreadingonhighenergyphysicsapplicationsinagridenvironment