Handling Application-Induced Load Imbalance using Parallel Objects

One of the problems in applying parallel computing for a broad class of applications arises from the dynamic nature of computations being parallelized. Even if the computation is carefully load-balanced at the beginning, the balance deteriorates over time, either due to adaptive refinements, or gradual change in the load of different components. Such imbalances can have a dramatic effect on performance, especially when a large number of processors are used. We present a methodology based on data-driven objects that can automatically handle such application-induced load imbalances and rebalance the load as needed. The methodology relies on automatic instrumentation to record load and communication patterns, and a flexible load-balancing framework that facilitates development of different strategies that may be appropriate for different classes of applications.

Robert K. Brunner and Laxmikant V. Kale, "Handling Application-Induced Load 
Imbalance using Parallel Objects", Parallel and Distributed Computing for 
Symbolic and Irregular Applications, ed. Takayasu Ito and Taiichi Yuasa,
Publ: World Scientific Publishing, 2000, pp. 167--181.

@inproceedings{appBalancer99,
  author =       "Robert K. Brunner and Laxmikant V. Kal\'e",
  title =        "Handling Application-Induced Load Imbalance using Parallel Objects",
  booktitle = {Parallel and Distributed Computing for Symbolic and Irregular Applications},
  pages = {167--181},
  year = 2000,
  hiddeneditor = {Takayasu Ito and Taiichi Yuasa},
  publisher = {World Scientific Publishing}
}