Generation of simple analytical models for message passing applications

We present a methodology which allows to derive accurate and simple models which are able to describe the performance of parallel applications without looking at the source code. A trace is obtained and linear models are derived by fitting the outcome of a set of simulations varying the influential parameters, such as: processor speed, network latency or bandwidth. The simplicity of the linear models allows for natural derivation of interpretations for the corresponding factors of the model, allowing for both prediction accuracy and interpretability to be maintained. We explain how we plan to extend this approach to extrapolate from these models to be apply it to predict for processor counts different to the one of the given traces.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft