GPU Binary Instrumentation for Instruction-Level Profiling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing GPU profiling techniques lack the ability to provide granular performance insights at the machine instruction level, as they are limited to API-level profiling, which cannot determine execution performance of specific machine instructions or basic blocks, and require modifying source code.
Innovation Solution
A method for instruction-level GPU profiling using binary instrumentation, where profiling instructions are inserted into compiled GPU binary code to generate instrumented code, allowing execution by GPU hardware to collect performance data at the machine instruction level, which is then displayed for analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If API-level profiling is used, then profiling is simpler to implement, but measurement precision is insufficient to capture instruction-level performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a binary instrumentation module as an intermediary between the GPU compiler and the profiling system. This module automatically inserts profiling instructions into the binary code without requiring source code modifications, thereby achieving instruction-level measurement precision while keeping the profiling system complexity manageable through automated processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the profiling functionality into distinct components: a binary instrumentation module that inserts profiling instructions, a profiling runtime that collects performance data, and an analysis module that processes the data. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific tasks, improving measurement precision while organizing system complexity into manageable modules
2Measurement precision
If source code modification is required for profiling, then measurement precision improves, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The binary instrumentation module acts as an intermediary that operates on compiled binary code rather than source code. It automatically inserts profiling instructions at the binary level, achieving instruction-level measurement precision without requiring developers to modify source code, thereby maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of manual source code modification with an automated binary instrumentation process. The system automatically analyzes and modifies binary code to insert profiling instructions, eliminating the need for developers to manually edit source code while still achieving fine-grained performance measurement
3Measurement precision
If profiling instructions are inserted in binary code, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The binary instrumentation module performs self-service by automatically analyzing the binary code structure and determining appropriate locations for inserting profiling instructions. It uses heuristics and patterns to identify basic blocks and insertion points without requiring complex manual configuration, thereby reducing the perceived device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the binary code before inserting profiling instructions. It pre-processes the binary to identify basic blocks, control flow structures, and optimal insertion points, which simplifies the subsequent instrumentation process and reduces the complexity of the overall system
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed examples include generating instrumented code by inserting profiling instructions at insertion points in code; outputting the instrumented code for execution by second programmable circuitry; and accessing profiling data generated by the second programmable circuitry based on the instrumented code.