Simulation represents the most flexible and available method for modelling interconnection networks. E.g. when simulating large InfiniBand clusters, that are infeasible to build for the sake of testing, simulation is a valuable tool to predict the performance characteristics of the cluster. In order to strengthen our confidence in the simulation results it is useful to calibrate the simulation model with a small prototype of its real world equivalent, when such a prototype is feasible.

The purpose of this thesis will the calibration of simulations against actual network hardware and to understand shortcomings and pitfalls of simulations.

What you will do:

• you will perform performance measurement on real hardware
• you will perform performance measurement on a simulation model and calibrate the model against the hardware

What you will learn:

• you will get to know the InfiniBand architecture, a state of the art high performance networking technology
• you will obtain a thorough understanding of the OpenSM software and the OFED stack
• you will learn to analyse network performance through simulations and measurements

References

• The InfiniBand® Trade Association
• The OpenFabrics Alliance