PDS: A Performance Database Server

Michael W. Berry, Jack J. Dongarra, Brian H. Larose, Todd A. Letsche

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The process of gathering, archiving, and distributing computer benchmark data is a cumbersome task usually performed by computer users and vendors with little coordination. Most important, there is no publicly available central depository of performance data for all ranges of machines from personal computers to supercomputers. We present an Internet-accessible performance database server (PDS) that can be used to extract current benchmark data and literature. As an extension to the X-Windows-based user interface (Xnetlib) to the Netlib archival system, PDS provides an on-line catalog of public domain computer benchmarks such as the UNPACK benchmark, Perfect benchmarks, and the NAS parallel benchmarks. PDS does not reformat or present the benchmark data in any way that conflicts with the original methodology of any particular benchmark; it is thereby devoid of any subjective interpretations of machine performance. We believe that all branches (research laboratories, academia, and industry) of the general computing community can use this facility to archive performance metrics and make them readily available to the public. PDS can provide a more manageable approach to the development and support of a large dynamic database of published performance metrics.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)147-156
Number of pages10
JournalScientific Programming
Volume3
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1994

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'PDS: A Performance Database Server'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this