Collaborative Research: Cross-Layer Exploration of Non-Volatile Solid-State Memories to Achieve Effective I/O Stack for High-Performance Computing Systems

University Of Florida, Gainesville FL

Investigators

Abstract

The objective of this research is to develop techniques that utilize solid-state memory technologies from device, circuit, architecture, and system perspectives across I/O hierarchy in order to exploit their true potential for improving I/O stack performance in high-performance computing systems. The PIs plan to develop I/O friendly memory system architectures to enable hybrid processor-memory 3D integrations with largely reduced off-chip I/O traffic. In addition, adaptive cache management and hotspot prediction methods are being developed to address the low random write performance of solid-state drives, and data processing techniques will be developed to enable run-time configurable trade-offs among solid-state drive performance characteristics. A comprehensive full-system simulation infrastructure is capable to evaluate and demonstrate the research under diverse high-performance computing workloads. The research facilitates the high-performance computing systems to utilize existing/emerging memory and processing technologies to tackle the grand I/O stack design challenge. It can greatly contribute to enabling high-performance computing systems to stay on track of their historic scaling, and hence benefit numerous real-life applications such as biology, chemistry, earth science, health care, etc. This project contributse to the society through engaging under-represented groups, research infrastructure dissemination for education and training, and outreach to high school students.