ArSMART

This is a simulator which enables basic NoC, SMART NoC and ArSMART NoC. This simulator is developed based on gem5. The main website can be found at http://www.gem5.org.

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To install this simulator:

• 1. Download gem5: https://github.com/Dawnzju/gem5 (This is the version I am working on. Recommanded since the patch can be easily applied)
• 2. Check the python version: Python 2.7.17 :: Anaconda, Inc. (conda activate py27)
• 3. Make sure the original gem5 can be compiled and executed.
• 4. Download and install JSONcpp: https://github.com/open-source-parsers/jsoncpp#generating-amalgamated-source-and-header
• 5. Paste configs to gem5 folder
• 5. Download NoC.patch file in this repo to gem5 folder.
• 6. Apply this patch using command: git apply NoC1.patch
• 7. Compile again: scons build/Garnet_standalone/gem5.debug -j25 NUMBER_BITS_PER_SET=256

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To use this simulator:

• Original traffic pattern for NoC are supported:
  https://www.gem5.org/documentation/general_docs/ruby/garnet_synthetic_traffic/
• Prepare the task graph file with mapping and routing information
  • The task graph is saved in a json file: one task with out links is saved as:
    "9": {"total_needReceive": 93, "input_links": [], "start_time": 0, "out_links": [[[2, 93, [], [[9, "S"], [17, "S"], [25, "S"], [33, "E"], [34, "E"], [35, "E"]], 1, 9, 36], [2, 93, [], [[9, "E"], [10, "E"], [11, "E"], [12, "S"], [20, "S"], [28, "S"]], 2, 9, 36], [2, 93, [], [[9, "E"], [10, "E"], [11, "S"], [19, "S"], [27, "S"], [35, "E"]], 3, 9, 36], [2, 93, [], [[9, "E"], [10, "S"], [18, "S"], [26, "E"], [27, "E"], [28, "S"]], 6, 9, 36], [2, 93, [], [[9, "E"], [10, "E"], [11, "S"], [19, "S"], [27, "E"], [28, "S"]], 6, 9, 36]]], "end_time": 0, "visited": 0, "total_needSend": 93, "exe_time": 102, "mapto": 9}
  • taskid(str):{"total_needReceive":int(total message need to be received), "input_links": list(opt,reserved for future use), "start_time": int(opt,reserved for future use), "out put links": [[link1[candidata path1: destinationTaskId,messagesize,priority(opt,reserved for future use),path,candidateCount,sourceRouter,destinationRouter],[candidata path2],[candidata path3]],[link2],[link3]],"endTime":int(opt,reserved for future use),"visited":0 or 1(opt,reserved for future use),"totalneedSend": int(total Message need to send),"exe_time":int(total task should be executed),"mapto":int(The PE has been mapped to)}
  • File name format: appName_Meshxxx_applicationInjectRate_Method.json
• 3. Options:
  • --num-cpus Number of PEs
  • --num-dirs
  • --sim-cycles Number of simulation cycles
  • --topology NoC topology
  • --debug-flags=GarnetSyntheticTraffic Show the debug information
  • --network=garnet2.0 Enable garnet network
  • --mesh-rows Mesh size
  • --synthetic Synthetic traffic loads
  • --smart_hpcmax=8 Number of hops can be traversed in one cycle
  • Example: ./build/Garnet_standalone/gem5.debug --debug-flags=GarnetSyntheticTraffic configs/example/garnet_synth_traffic.py --network=garnet2.0 --num-cpus=64 --num-dirs=64 --topology=Mesh_XY --mesh-rows=8 --sim-cycles=1000000 --single-flit --synthetic=taskgraph --filename=Example_Mesh8x8_AIR1_xy.json
  • For SMART NoC:
    • --smart (GarnetNetwork.py/Network.py) Enable SMART
    • --smart2D (GarnetNetwork.py/Network.py) Enable SMART-2D
    • Example: ./build/Garnet_standalone/gem5.debug --debug-flags=GarnetSyntheticTraffic configs/example/garnet_synth_traffic.py --network=garnet2.0 --num-cpus=64 --num-dirs=64 --topology=Mesh_XY --mesh-rows=8 --sim-cycles=1000000 --single-flit --synthetic=taskgraph --smart --smart_hpcmax=4 --filename=Example_Mesh8x8_AIR1_xy.json
  • For ArSMART NoC:
    • Please read this paper: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9464312
    • --central (GarnetNetwork.py/Network.py) Enable the bypass at routers for the ArSMART
    • --filename (GarnetNetwork.py/Network.py) The routing and mapping configuration file
    • Example: ./build/Garnet_standalone/gem5.debug --debug-flags=GarnetSyntheticTraffic configs/example/garnet_synth_traffic.py --network=garnet2.0 --num-cpus=64 --num-dirs=64 --smart_hpcmax=8 --topology=Mesh_XY --mesh-rows=8 --sim-cycles=1000000 --single-flit --synthetic=taskgraph --central --filename=Example_Mesh8x8_AIR1_xy.json

Mapping and routing

• Minimize contention via direct and indirect route:

  • Peng Chen, Hui Chen, Jun Zhou, Mengquan Li, Weichen Liu, Chunhua Xiao, Yaoyao Ye, Nan Guan, ``Contention Minimization in Emerging SMART NoC via Direct and Indirect Routes.'' in IEEE Transactions on Computers (TC). 2021

  • Example: Example_Mesh8x8_AIR1_basic.json | Example_Mesh8x8_AIR1_improved.json

• Mapping and routing co-optimization:

  • Hui Chen, Zihao Zhang, Peng Chen, Xiangzhong Luo, Shiqing Li, Weichen Liu, "MARCO: A High-performance Task Mapping and Routing Co-optimization Framework for Point-to-Point NoC-based Heterogeneous Computing Systems", in ACM Transactions on Embedded Computing Systems, doi: 10.1145/3476985

  • Example: Example_Mesh8x8_AIR1_coop.json

  • https://github.com/Dawnzju/2-MARCO

• Mapping and routing co-optimization:

  • Hui Chen, Peng Chen, Xiangzhong Luo, Shuohuai, Weichen Liu, ``LAMP: Load-balanced Multipath Parallel Transmission in Point-to-point NoCs.'' IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems (TCAD). 2022.

  • Example: Example_Mesh8x8_AIR1_split.json

  • https://github.com/Dawnzju/3-DataSplitting