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Thread context preservation in a multithreading computer system

A computer system and context technology, applied in the field of computer systems, can solve problems such as difficult to determine workload

Active Publication Date: 2016-11-16
IBM CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

For example, if the hardware executes a single MT thread per core when there is low compute utilization and at high thread density when there is high compute utilization, it can be very difficult to determine how much of the total MT compute capacity is available for the workload

Method used

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  • Thread context preservation in a multithreading computer system
  • Thread context preservation in a multithreading computer system
  • Thread context preservation in a multithreading computer system

Examples

Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0026] The illustrative embodiments provide for multi-threaded operations in computer systems that support both single-threaded and multi-threaded modes of operation. As used herein, a logical thread refers to a single stream of instructions and its associated state. That is, at the architectural level, each logical thread represents an independent central processing unit (CPU) or processor. At the hardware level, a thread is the execution of an instruction stream associated with a logical thread combined with maintenance of object state when a thread is dispatched. Accordingly, the terms "thread" and "CPU" are used interchangeably herein.

[0027] In one exemplary embodiment, the CPU contains sequencing and processing tools for instruction execution, interrupt actions, timing functions, initial program loading, and other machine-related functions. A CPU defines logical functions that can be mapped to a variety of underlying physical implementations. The CPU can process fix...

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Abstract

According to one aspect, a computer system includes a configuration with a core configurable between a single thread (ST) mode and a multithreading (MT) mode. The ST mode addresses a primary thread, and the MT mode addresses the primary thread and one or more secondary threads. The computer system also includes a multithreading facility configured to control utilization of the configuration to perform a method. Based on determining, by the core in the MT mode, that MT is to be disabled, the MT mode switches to the ST mode, where the primary thread of the MT mode is maintained as the primary thread of the ST mode. A thread context of the one or more secondary threads is made inaccessible to programs. Based on the switching, any one of clearing the program accessible register values or retaining the program accessible register values is performed.

Description

Background technique [0001] The present invention relates generally to computer systems supporting multiple threads, and more particularly to thread context preservation in multi-threaded computer systems. [0002] As the processor speeds of computer systems have increased over the past few decades, the speed at which the memory of such computer systems can be accessed has increased disproportionately. Therefore, the faster the processor's cycle time, the more significant the delay waiting for data to be fetched from memory. The effects of such delays are mitigated by various levels of caching and, in the latest processors, by multi-threading (MT). [0003] MT allows the various core resources of a processor to be shared by multiple instruction streams, called threads. Core resources may include execution units, caches, translation lookaside buffers (TLBs), and the like, which may be generally collectively referred to as cores. During delays caused by cache misses or other ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(China)
IPC IPC(8): G06F9/46
CPCG06F9/463G06F9/3851G06F9/30189G06F9/30145G06F9/30098G06F9/3013
Inventor D·格雷纳M·法雷尔D·L·奥西塞克D·W·施密特F·Y·布萨巴J·P·库巴拉J·D·布拉德伯里L·C·海勒T·斯莱格尔C·小盖尼
Owner IBM CORP