Optimizing Job Performance#

Optimizing job performance is essential to maximizing efficiency and minimizing computational time on HPC systems. This page provides an overview and best practices on how to achieve this.

Understanding the System Architecture#

Understanding the underlying hardware, including CPUs, GPUs, memory hierarchy, and network topology, will help you make informed decisions about structuring your computational tasks.

See also

Hardware

Choosing the Right Resources#

Selecting the right resources, such as the correct queue, number of CPUs, amount of memory, or using GPUs, is essential for performance optimization.

  • Number of CPUs: Determine the appropriate number based on your task’s parallel nature.

  • Memory: Monitor and evaluate the memory requirements.

  • GPUs: Utilize GPUs if your computations are suitable for GPU acceleration.

Code Optimization#

Code optimization involves:

  • Algorithmic Efficiency: Choose the most efficient algorithms.

  • Compiler Options: Utilize compiler optimization flags.

  • Data Structure Choices: Choose the most appropriate data structures.

Parallelization#

Understanding and employing parallelization techniques can significantly reduce computational time. This includes:

  • Thread-level parallelization: Using tools like OpenMP.

  • Process-level parallelization: Using MPI for distributed computing.

Profiling Tools#

Leveraging profiling tools to identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement in your code is crucial.

Common Profiling Tools in HPC#

Tool

Purpose

gprof

GNU Performance Profiling Tool

Intel VTune

Performance and Thread profiler

NVIDIA Nsight

GPU performance analysis and debugging

Best Optimization Practices#

  • Always Profile First: Use profiling tools to find bottlenecks before optimizing any code.

  • Regular Monitoring: Monitor the job’s performance and make necessary adjustments.

  • Use Existing Libraries: Often, existing libraries are optimized and can save you time.

  • Documentation and Version Control: Keep your code well-documented and use version control for reputability.

Further Reading#

Note

This is a general guide and may not cover all specific cases. Always consult with the HPC support team or refer to the specific documentation related to your hardware and software for tailored optimization strategies.

Please contact our support team if you need personalized assistance optimizing your job’s performance.