Austin, Texas

Morning Session, December 2, 2001

Contact: Todd Austin (University of Michigan), austin@umich.edu

The SimpleScalar tool set is a high level computer system modeling infrastructure suitable for program performance analysis, detailed microarchitectural modeling, and hardware-software co-verification. Using the SimpleScalar tools, users can simulate real programs running on a range of modern processors and systems.  The tool set includes simulators ranging from a fast functional simulator to a detailed, dynamically scheduled processor model that supports non-blocking caches, speculative execution, and state-of-the-art branch prediction. The SimpleScalar tools are used widely for research and instruction, for example, in 2000 more than one third of all papers published in top computer architecture conferences used the SimpleScalar tools to evaluate their designs.  In addition to simulators, the SimpleScalar tool set includes performance visualization tools, statistical analysis resources, and debug and verification infrastructure.

This tutorial will give an overview of the SimpleScalar tool set, with particular attention paid to the new features introduced in SimpleScalar version 4.0.  SimpleScalar version 4.0, due out later this year, represents the culmination of two years effort by developers at University of Texas at Austin, University of Michigan, and SimpleScalar LLC.  New SimpleScalar features that will be covered during the tutorial include:

• PowerAnalyzer - architectural level power models
• MASE - microarchitectural simulation environment
• GPV and ss-vis - graphical pipeline viewers
• sim-alpha - validated Alpha 21264 microarchitecture model
• SimpleScalar/ARM - SimpleScalar ARM target support
• SimpleScalar/PPC - SimpleScalar PPC target and SimOS interface
• SimpleScalar/x86 - SimpleScalar x86 target support
• MiBench - embedded benchmarks suite

Visit www.simplescalar.com for more information about the SimpleScalar tool set.

Contributors:

Todd Austin, University of Michigan/SimpleScalar LLC
Doug Burger, University of Texas at Austin
Raj Desikan, University of Texas at Austin
Dan Ernst, University of Michigan
Matt Guthaus, University of Michigan
Nam Sung Kim, University of Michigan
Eric Larson, University of Michigan
Trevor Mudge, University of Michigan
Hrishi Murukathampoondi, University of Texas at Austin
Karu Sankaralingam, University of Texas at Austin
Bill Yoder, University of Texas at Austin