Year: 1986
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: We have developed an environment which allows us to collect data for performance analysis by modifying the microcode of a VAX 8600. This use of microprogramming permits data to be collected with minimal system perturbation (i.e. the data is almost as good as that obtained with a hardware monitor) but at the cost and with the ease of use of a software simulator. In this paper we describe the environment that we have developed and present two examples of its use. The first example, procedure call instrumentation, illustrates a technique for gathering data on how certain architectural features are used. The second example, instruction tracing, illustrates a technique for collecting data that can then be used in trace—driven simulation.
DOI: 10.1145/19551.19550
Authors: S. W. Melvin, Y. N. Patt
Institution: University of California, Berkeley
Language: English
Subfield: Hardware and Architecture
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2725912659