Course syllabus

Multicoreprogrammering
Multicore Programming

EDAN25, 6 credits, A (Second Cycle)

Valid for: 2013/14
Decided by: Education Board A
Date of Decision: 2013-04-15

General Information

Elective for: D4, D4-is, D4-pv, F4, Pi4, Pi4-pv
Language of instruction: The course will be given in Swedish

Aim

The purpose of the course is that the students should use knowledge from the course EDAF15 Algorithm Implementation when writing software for multicores, ie to learn how to implement an algorithm as efficiently as possible on a particular multicore computer, both on a traditional multiprocessor with shared memory, and on multicores where communication is handled explicitly by software, e.g. as with DMA on the Cell processor, and to understand advantages and disadvantages of these two multicore architectures.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

Competences and skills
For a passing grade the student must

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

Contents

Multiprocessors, classification of cache misses, decomposition of the computation into tasks. Assignment of tasks to threads. Mapping of threads to processors. Programming models, synchronisation, and communication. Owner computes rule. Memory consistency models. Sequential consistency. Weak ordering. Release consistency, Pthreads, OpenMP, the Cell processor, current research trends in multiprocessor computer architecture.

Examination details

Grading scale: TH
Assessment: Written exam. To pass the course, the exam, laboratory exercises, and a programming assignment must be passed. The final grade of the course is based om the result of the written exam.

Parts
Code: 0114. Name: Compulsory Course Items.
Credits: 2. Grading scale: UG. Assessment: To qualify for a passing grade the laboratory work and the project must be completed. Contents: Laboratory work and a project.
Code: 0214. Name: Written Examination.
Credits: 4. Grading scale: TH. Assessment: The final grade of the course is based on the result of the written examination. Contents: Written examination.

Admission

Admission requirements:

The number of participants is limited to: No
The course overlaps following course/s: EDA116

Reading list

Contact and other information

Course coordinator: Jonas Skeppstedt, jonas.skeppstedt@cs.lth.se
Course homepage: http://cs.lth.se/edan25