Designing parallel systems: a performance prediction problem

PSEE (Parallel System Evaluation Environment) is a software tool that provides a multiprocessor system for research into alternative architectural decisions and experimentation, with such issues as selection, design, tuning, scheduling, clustering and routing policies. PSEE facilitates simulation and performance evaluation as well as a prediction environment for the design and tuning of parallel systems. These tasks involve cycles through programming, simulation, measurement, visualization and modification of parallel system parameters. PSEE includes a parallel programming tool, a simulator for link oriented parallel systems, BOLAS, and a performance evaluation tool, GRAPH. These PSEE modules are tools oriented to support the above tasks in user-friendly, interactive and animated graphical form. PSEE provides quantitative information in a graphical tailored form. This numerical/graphical output helps the user make decisions about his/her particular development.