The powers that be at Intel, AMD, IBM, Sun, HP and the other leaders in multicore processor technology know that multithreading is not part of the future of multicore computing. In fact, multithreading is the reason for the parallel programming crisis. Fortunately, there is a way to design and program multicore processors that does not involve the use of threads at all (see link below).
Having said that, The biggest problem facing the processor industry is not the parallel programming crisis. The worst problem of them all has to do with memory bandwidth. As the number of cores continues to increase, memory subsystems will be hard pressed to keep up. The memory bandwidth problem is the real show stopper because it threatens to repeal Moore's law regardless of whether or not the programming problems are solved.
I suspect, however, that a correct programming model will open new avenues of research that may lead to a solution to the memory bandwidth crisis.
How to Solve the Parallel Programming Problem:
http://rebelscience.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-to-solve-parallel-programming.html
Multicore chips leave software trailing, warns Gartner
Summary
The growth of multicore processors is too fast for software, which struggles to use the technology effectively, Gartner says.
Topics
Gartner sounded a warning on Wednesday about the impact on software of the rapid growth of multicore chips and the number of threads each processor can handle.
In a research note, the analysts argued that software is struggling to keep pace with the fast growth of multicore processors, first from two and four cores per processor, and now to eight and even 32 cores in high-end servers. With 32 processors per socket already shipping, four years from now machines could host 1,024 processors, Gartner said.
Analyst Carl Claunch said: "Many of the software configurations in use today will be challenged to support the hardware configurations possible, and those will be accelerating in the future."
Running advanced multicore machines with today's software is like "putting a Ferrari engine in a go-cart", he said.
Part of the problem, Claunch said, was the speed of innovation in today's chip design. Chips develop with more cores and each core gets more threads as well, adding to the issue, he said. Each generation turns the same number of sockets into twice as many processors.
Claunch said the software that runs today's servers has both hard and soft limits on the number of processors. Part of the problem was that it was difficult to find out what the limits were, he added.
"An operating system might use an eight-bit field to hold the processor number, meaning a hard limit exists of 256 processors," Claunch said. "Soft limits, however, are uncovered only from word-of-mouth, real-world cases. They are caused by the characteristics of the software design, which may deliver poor incremental performance or, in many cases, yield a decrease in useful work as more processors are added."
The issue meant there were limits on the architecture of systems, caused by the software. "The net result will be hurried migrations to new operating systems in a race to help the software keep up with the processing power available on tomorrow's servers," Claunch said.
From Multicore chips leave software trailing, warns Gartner originally published on ZDNet.co.uk.
Talkback Most Recent of 10 Talkback(s)
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Mapou28th Jan 2009 -
RE: Multicore chips leave software trailing, warns Gartner
Gartner knows nothing. They constantly talk out of their rear ends.
Why does anyone listen to this pack of clowns anymore?
The list of things that Gartner has been wrong about is so large that you need a computer with a multicore CPU just to process that lengthy list.
Unix Pimp28th Jan 2009 -
RE: Multicore chips leave software trailing, warns Gartner
Does anyone remember the Multiflow computer company? They failed in a spectacular way to deal with the multiprocessor software problem. Sometimes what is new is actually old with a bit of Alzheimers sprinkled on top!
tburzio28th Jan 2009 -
RE: Multicore chips leave software trailing, warns Gartner
8 core servers ? This is reaaaally not new !
What about virtualization ? Even if some software does not support 32 cores, the virtualization software can deal with 32 cores and this allow you to really use all cores available (if you intend to install several virtual servers on 1 physical).
frederic_0629th Jan 2009 -
T1Oracle29th Jan 2009 -
RE: Multicore chips leave software trailing, warns Gartner
Did we really need Gartner to "warn" us? At the most basic levels, look at the new PC market. You now must search to find a 32 bit CPU. 64 bit CPUs are now the standard. OK now try to find a complete set of 64 bit Apps. Windows and Linux have the OS covered, but what of browsers, office suites, and worst of all are the plugins and extensions.
Sagax-29th Jan 2009 -
Adobe must die
"and worst of all are the plugins and extensions."
Welcome to how Adobe is killing the Linux 64bit desktop. No proprietary native 64bit web extensions, and the 32-64bit emulator takes (you might guess this) the same CPU time as the extension does (doubles flash's (etc.) already high CPU use).
I guess it might be affecting 64bit Windows too, I'm not sure if IE is 32 bit on Win64, or 64bit, or maybe MS is running it in emulation mode.
So, Adobe must die ... or at least release some 64bit stuff already...
EMonkIA30th Jan 2009 -
Adobe is catching up...
64-bit Flash for Linux is under development. I have heard rumors that 64-bit Java plugins will be available soon. As for the rest, 64-bit Office, Browser, and other apps have been available on Linux for some time now. Software for 64-bit Windows is sadly lacking, but I am sure that will change quickly with Windows 7...
barence7734th Feb 2009 -
How is this a problem?
I dont get it. If the HARDWARE was not able to keep up with the demand that SOFTWARE was putting on it - then I could see. But if software doesnt feel like taking advantage of the hardware, then so what.
I dont see any way Carl Claunch could even dream up such an analogy as "the software that runs today's servers has both hard and soft limits on the number of processors. Part of the problem was that it was difficult to find out what the limits were"
Its difficult to follow YOUR logic, is what's difficult. The software isnt going to break or fall apart. If the software WORKS then it will work. My God - big deal!
and.....
"The issue meant there were limits on the architecture of systems, caused by the software. "The net result will be hurried migrations to new operating systems in a race to help the software keep up with the processing power available on tomorrow's servers," Claunch said."
and if this turns out to be true, then so what? That means there is work for software developers. And as long as we dont outsource our work to India or China, we'll all be A-OK!
VoiceOfLogic29th Jan 2009 -
Amen
Agreed.
Software developers will innovate, or they'll be
out of work.
fadzlan@...1st Feb 2009
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