Charm++ & MPI: Combining the Best of Both Worlds
IEEE International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium (IPDPS) 2015
Publication Type: Talk
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Summary
MPI and Charm++ embody two distinct perspectives for writing parallel programs. While MPI provides a processor-centric, user-driven model for developing parallel codes, Charm++ supports work-centric, overdecomposition-based, system-driven parallel programming. One or the other can be the best or most natural fit for distinct modules that constitute a parallel application. In this paper, we present a framework that enables hybrid parallel programming with MPI and Charm++, and allows programmers to develop different modules of a parallel application in these two languages while facilitating smooth interoperation. We describe the challenges in enabling interoperation between MPI and Charm++, and present techniques for managing the control flow and resource sharing in such scenarios. Finally, we demonstrate the benefits of interoperation between MPI and Charm++ through several case studies that use production applications and libraries, including CHARM/Chombo, EpiSimdemics, NAMD, FFTW, MPI-IO and ParMETIS.
Link to the paper presented at IPDPS'15
Link to the paper presented at IPDPS'15
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