On the Predictive Quality of BSP-like Cost Functions for NOWs� (Extended Abstract)

Abstract. The Bulk-Synchronous Parallel (BSP) model [16] provides a simple and portable programming discipline that is particularly suitable for coarsegrained parallel systems such as Networks of Workstations (NOWs). In this work we examine the issue of predictability of the BSP cost function for a NOW consisting of SUN workstations connected through a 10Mbps Ethernet network. In particular, we compare the original BSP cost function with a number of newly proposed variants, with the intent of improving predictability by having the cost function encompass those parameters of the hardware/software system which have the largest impact on performance.