Falcon-Toward Interactive Parallel Programs: The On-line Steering of a Molecular Dynamics Application

This paper focuses on the opportunities and costs of on-line steering as applied to a substantial parallel application. We demonstrate potential performance improvements through the use of the Falcon system, an experimental system for the on-line monitoring and steering of parallel programs. The visual presentation of program output along with animated displays of program performance information via Falcon's monitoring system enables the on-line capture, analysis, and display of program information required for program steering. Falcon also provides the mechanisms for the manipulations of program state that accomplish this online steering