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Scalable Cache Coherence Analysis for Shared Memory Multiprocessors

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Book cover Scalable Shared Memory Multiprocessors

Abstract

This paper analyzes a new hardware solution for the cache coherence problem in large scale shared memory multiprocessors. The protocol is based on a linked list of caches — forming a distributed directory and does not require a global broadcast mechanism. Fully-mapped directory-based solutions proposed earlier also do not require a global broadcast mechanism. However, our solution is more scalable and provides potentially better performance than the fully-mapped directory-based protocol. We provide simulation results to show that the performance of the distributed directory protocol is more robust when there is contention for the data and for variations in memory technology. Further, we do not assume that the network preserves the order of messages. Thus we do not preclude adaptive routing.

This work was supported by equipment provided by the Knowledge Systems Laboratory, Department of Computer Science, Stanford University.

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© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Thapar, M., Delagi, B. (1992). Scalable Cache Coherence Analysis for Shared Memory Multiprocessors. In: Dubois, M., Thakkar, S. (eds) Scalable Shared Memory Multiprocessors. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3604-8_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3604-8_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6601-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-3604-8

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