Application of full-system simulation in exploratory system design and development

James L. Peterson; Patrick J. Bohrer; Lei Chen; Elmootazbellah N. Elnozahy; Ahmed Gheith; Richard H. Jewell; Michael D. Kistler; Theodore R. Maeurer; Sean A. Malone; David B. Murrell; Neena Needel; Karthick Rajamani; Mark A. Rinaldi; Richard O. Simpson; Kartik Sudeep; Lixin Zhang

doi:10.1147/rd.502.0321

Application of full-system simulation in exploratory system design and development

James L. Peterson^*, Patrick J. Bohrer, Lei Chen, Elmootazbellah N. Elnozahy, Ahmed Gheith, Richard H. Jewell, Michael D. Kistler, Theodore R. Maeurer, Sean A. Malone, David B. Murrell, Neena Needel, Karthick Rajamani, Mark A. Rinaldi, Richard O. Simpson, Kartik Sudeep, Lixin Zhang

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper describes the design and application of a full-system simulation environment that has been widely used in the exploration of the IBM PowerPC® processor and system design. The IBM full-system simulator has been developed to meet the needs of hardware and software designers for fast, accurate, execution-driven simulation of complete systems, incorporating parameterized architectural models. This environment enables the development and tuning of production-level operating systems, compilers, and critical software support well in advance of hardware availability, which can significantly shorten the critical path of system development. The ability to develop early versions of software can benefit hardware development by identifying design issues that may affect functionality and performance far earlier in the development cycle, when they are much less costly to correct. In this paper, we describe features of the simulation environment and present examples of its application in the context of the Sony-Toshiba-IBM Cell Broadband Engine™ and IBM PERCS development projects.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	321-332
Number of pages	12
Journal	IBM Journal of Research and Development
Volume	50
Issue number	2-3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1147/rd.502.0321
State	Published - 2006
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Computer Science

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Peterson, J. L., Bohrer, P. J., Chen, L., Elnozahy, E. N., Gheith, A., Jewell, R. H., Kistler, M. D., Maeurer, T. R., Malone, S. A., Murrell, D. B., Needel, N., Rajamani, K., Rinaldi, M. A., Simpson, R. O., Sudeep, K., & Zhang, L. (2006). Application of full-system simulation in exploratory system design and development. IBM Journal of Research and Development, 50(2-3), 321-332. https://doi.org/10.1147/rd.502.0321

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title = "Application of full-system simulation in exploratory system design and development",

abstract = "This paper describes the design and application of a full-system simulation environment that has been widely used in the exploration of the IBM PowerPC{\textregistered} processor and system design. The IBM full-system simulator has been developed to meet the needs of hardware and software designers for fast, accurate, execution-driven simulation of complete systems, incorporating parameterized architectural models. This environment enables the development and tuning of production-level operating systems, compilers, and critical software support well in advance of hardware availability, which can significantly shorten the critical path of system development. The ability to develop early versions of software can benefit hardware development by identifying design issues that may affect functionality and performance far earlier in the development cycle, when they are much less costly to correct. In this paper, we describe features of the simulation environment and present examples of its application in the context of the Sony-Toshiba-IBM Cell Broadband Engine{\texttrademark} and IBM PERCS development projects.",

author = "Peterson, {James L.} and Bohrer, {Patrick J.} and Lei Chen and Elnozahy, {Elmootazbellah N.} and Ahmed Gheith and Jewell, {Richard H.} and Kistler, {Michael D.} and Maeurer, {Theodore R.} and Malone, {Sean A.} and Murrell, {David B.} and Neena Needel and Karthick Rajamani and Rinaldi, {Mark A.} and Simpson, {Richard O.} and Kartik Sudeep and Lixin Zhang",

year = "2006",

doi = "10.1147/rd.502.0321",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "50",

pages = "321--332",

journal = "IBM Journal of Research and Development",

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Peterson, JL, Bohrer, PJ, Chen, L, Elnozahy, EN, Gheith, A, Jewell, RH, Kistler, MD, Maeurer, TR, Malone, SA, Murrell, DB, Needel, N, Rajamani, K, Rinaldi, MA, Simpson, RO, Sudeep, K & Zhang, L 2006, 'Application of full-system simulation in exploratory system design and development', IBM Journal of Research and Development, vol. 50, no. 2-3, pp. 321-332. https://doi.org/10.1147/rd.502.0321

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AU - Bohrer, Patrick J.

AU - Chen, Lei

AU - Elnozahy, Elmootazbellah N.

AU - Gheith, Ahmed

AU - Jewell, Richard H.

AU - Kistler, Michael D.

AU - Maeurer, Theodore R.

AU - Malone, Sean A.

AU - Murrell, David B.

AU - Needel, Neena

AU - Rajamani, Karthick

AU - Rinaldi, Mark A.

AU - Simpson, Richard O.

AU - Sudeep, Kartik

AU - Zhang, Lixin

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Application of full-system simulation in exploratory system design and development

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