Brute force de-shredding algorithm using the GPU
Simon Naude · 2014
The graphics processing unit (GPU) has seen significant increase in performance over the past few years. Hence the interest in using GPUs for more general purposes has increased. The higher number of cores on a GPU allows it to outperform central processing units (CPUs). However, since in certain aspects instructions executed on the GPU must be executed in lock-step, generally the same instruction needs to be executed on multiple data sets. A deshredder program was created to test the performance gain where using the GPU to perform matching of shreds. Tests were performed using varying numbers of shreds to test how the transfer overhead between the CPU and GPU affects the timing, and how accurate a simple matching algorithm able to be executed on a GPU can be. The deshredder program showed a significant speedup when run on the GPU compared to with execution on a CPU, thereby confirming the hypothesis that a deshredding program could benefit from being executed on a GPU. ACM Computing Classification System Classification ACM Computing Classification System Classification (2012 version, valid through 2014) C.1.2 [Processor Architectures: Multiple Data Stream Architectures]Single-instructionstream, multiple-data-stream processors (SIMD). D.1.3 [Programming Techniques]Concurrent programming. F.1.2 [Modes of Computation]Parallelism and concurrency. General terms: Design, Experimental, Measurements Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr Bradshaw. Without her guidance, support, and positive attitude I would not be where I am now. I would like to thank my family and friends for their continuous support. This work was undertaken in the Distributed Multimedia CoE at Rhodes University, with financial support from Telkom SA, Tellabs, Genband, Easttel, Bright Ideas 39, THRIP and NRF SA (TP13070820716). The authors acknowledge that opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed here are those of the author(s) and that none of the above mentioned sponsors accept liability whatsoever in this regard.