Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “system software”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 records

Cross-Layer Self-Adaptive/Self-Aware System Software for Exascale Systems

The extreme level of parallelism coupled with the limited available power budget expected in the exascale era brings unprecedented challenges that demand optimization of performance, power and resiliency in unison. Scalability on such systems is of paramount importance, while power and reliability issues may change the execution environment in which a parallel application runs. To solve these challenges exascale systems will require an introspective system software that combines system and application observations across all system stack layers with online feedback and adaptation mechanisms. In this paper we propose the design of a novel self-aware, self-adaptive system software in which a kernel-level Monitor, which continuously inspects the evolution of the target system through observation of Sensors, is combined with a user-level Controller, which reacts to changes in the execution environment, explores opportunities to increase performance, save power and adapts applications to new execution scenarios. We show that the monitoring system accurately monitors the evolution of parallel applications with a runtime overhead below 1-2%. As a test case, we design and implement a user-runtime system that aims at optimizing application’s performance and system power consumption on complex hierarchical architectures. Our results show that our adaptive system reaches 98% of performance efficiency of manually-tuned applications.

High Performance computing, Self-aware/self-adapti↗

eXascale PRogramming Environment and System Software (XPRESS)

Exascale systems, with a thousand times the compute capacity of today’s leading edge petascale computers, are expected to emerge during the next decade. Their software systems will need to facilitate the exploitation of exceptional amounts of concurrency in applications, and ensure that jobs continue to run despite the occurrence of system failures and other kinds of hard and soft errors. Adapting computations at runtime to cope with changes in the execution environment, as well as to improve power and performance characteristics, is likely to become the norm. As a result, considerable innovation is required to develop system support to meet the needs of future computing platforms. The XPRESS project aims to develop and prototype a revolutionary software system for extreme-­scale computing for both exascale and strong­scaled problems. The XPRESS collaborative research project will advance the state-­of-­the-­art in high performance computing and enable exascale computing for current and future DOE mission-­critical applications and supporting systems. The goals of the XPRESS research project are to: A. enable exascale performance capability for DOE applications, both current and future, B. develop and deliver a practical computing system software X-­stack, OpenX, for future practical DOE exascale computing systems, and C. provide programming methods and environments for effective means of expressing application and system software for portable exascale system execution.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

The Locus Algorithm II: A robust software system to maximise the quality of fields of view for Differential Photometry

We present the software system developed to implement the Locus Algorithm, a novel algorithm designed to maximise the performance of differential photometry systems by optimising the number and quality of reference stars in the Field of View with the target. Firstly, we state the design requirements, constraints and ambitions for the software system required to implement this algorithm. Then, a detailed software design is presented for the system in operation. Next, the data design including file structures used and the data environment required for the system are defined. Finally, we conclude by illustrating the scaling requirements which mandate a high-performance computing implementation of this system, which is discussed in the other papers in this series.

Nolan, Kevin↗

RAMSeS: Rapid Analysis of Mission Software Systems

Over the past few decades, software has become ubiquitous as it has been integrated into nearly every aspect of society, including household appliances, consumer electronics, industrial control systems, public utilities, government operations, and military systems. Consequently, many critical national security questions can no longer be answered convincingly without understanding software, including its purpose, its capabilities, its flaws, its communication, or how it processes and stores data. As software continues to become larger, more complex, and more widespread, our ability to answer important mission questions and reason about software in a timely way is falling behind. Today, to achieve such understanding of third-party software, we rely predominantly on the ability of reverse engineering experts to manually answer each particular mission question for every software system of interest. This approach often requires heroic human effort that nevertheless fails to meet current mission needs and will never scale to meet future needs. The result is an emerging crisis: a massive and expanding gap between the national security need to answer mission questions about software and our ability to do so. Sandia National Laboratories has established the Rapid Analysis of Mission Software Systems (RAMSeS) effort, a collaborative long-term effort aimed at dramatically improving our nation’s ability to answer mission questions about third-party software by growing an ecosystem of tools that augment the human reverse engineer through automation, interoperability, and reuse. Focusing on static analysis of binary programs, we are attempting to identify reusable software analysis components that advance our ability to reason about software, to automate useful aspects of the software analysis process, and to integrate new methodologies and capabilities into a working ecosystem of tools and experts. We aim to integrate existing tools where possible, adapt tools when modest modifications will enable them to interoperate, and implement missing capability when necessary. Although we do hope to automate a growing set of analysis tasks, we will approach this goal incrementally by assisting the human in an ever-widening range of tasks.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

PNNL OS3700 Tritium Monitoring System Software and Hardware Operations Manual (Rev.2)

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) OS3700 Tritium Monitoring System Software and Hardware Operations Manual describes how to install and operate the software and hardware on a personal computer operating in conjunction with the Berthold Technologies LB110 flow-through proportional counter detector system. Included are operational details for the software functions, how to read and use the dropdown menus, how to understand readings and calculations, and how to access the database tables.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

PNNL OS3300 Alpha/Beta Monitoring System Software and Hardware Operations Manual (Rev.2)

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) OS3300 Alpha/Beta Monitoring System Software and Hardware Operations Manual describes how to operate the software and hardware on a personal computer in conjunction with the Berthold Technologies LB150D continuous air monitor. Included are operational details for the software functions and information about how to read and use the dropdown menus and how to understand readings and calculations.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Evaluation of Ocean Biogeochemistry and Carbon Cycling in CMIP Earth System Models With the International Ocean Model Benchmarking (IOMB) Software System

Abstract The International Ocean Model Benchmarking (IOMB) software package is a new community resource that we use here to evaluate surface and upper ocean biogeochemical variables and integrated anthropogenic carbon uptake from earth system models (ESMs) contributing to the 5th and 6th phases of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5 and CMIP6). IOMB generates graphics and tables for systematically comparing model predictions against multiple datasets. Our analysis reveals some improvement in the multi‐model mean from CMIP5 to CMIP6 for most of the variables we examined. Compared to data‐constrained estimates of ocean anthropogenic carbon uptake for the 1994–2007 period, negative biases exist for many models between 30 and 50°S. Global model estimates of anthropogenic carbon uptake for the same period do not change significantly from CMIP5 to CMIP6, with the combined ensemble mean estimate of 27.8 ± 0.5 Pg C lower than a data‐constrained estimate of 33.0 ± 4.0 Pg C. At the same time, the change in the natural carbon inventory from CMIP is estimated to be a source of 0.7 ± 0.3 Pg C, which is considerably smaller in magnitude than a data‐constrained estimate of 5.0 ± 3.0 Pg C. With chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) predictions available for several models, we demonstrate that negative anthropogenic dissolved inorganic carbon biases coincide with negative biases in CFC concentration, highlighting the importance of weak exchange between the surface and interior ocean in regulating rates of anthropogenic carbon uptake. To examine the robustness of this attribution across the CMIP models, we calculate the global vertical temperature gradient between 200 and 1,000 m as a metric for global stratification and exchange between the surface and deeper waters. We find a linear relationship between the bias of the vertical temperature gradients and the bias in global anthropogenic carbon uptake, consistent with the hypothesis that model biases in anthropogenic carbon uptake are related to biases in surface‐to‐interior exchange by physical processes.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Quantifying Scheduling Challenges for Exascale System Software

The move towards high-performance computing (HPC) ap- plications comprised of coupled codes and the need to dra- matically reduce data movement is leading to a reexami- nation of time-sharing vs. space-sharing in HPC systems. In this paper, we discuss and begin to quantify the perfor- mance impact of a move away from strict space-sharing of nodes for HPC applications. Specifically, we examine the po- tential performance cost of time-sharing nodes between ap- plication components, we determine whether a simple coor- dinated scheduling mechanism can address these problems, and we research how suitable simple constraint-based opti- mization techniques are for solving scheduling challenges in this regime. Our results demonstrate that current general- purpose HPC system software scheduling and resource al- location systems are subject to significant performance de- ciencies which we quantify for six representative applica- tions. Based on these results, we discuss areas in which ad- ditional research is needed to meet the scheduling challenges of next-generation HPC systems.

C.1.2 [Multiprocessors]: Parallel Processors↗

ARCH Technology Snapshot Autonomous Robot Control Hierarchy (ARCH): A universal software system that removes the need to rebuild robotic software for every new platform or task

Robots are increasingly used to perform repetitive, hazardous, and time-sensitive tasks, improving safety and operational efficiency. However, most robotic systems remain difficult to adapt because they are tightly tied to specific hardware and require extensive reprogramming for each new configuration.

42 ENGINEERING↗

XPRESS: eXascale PRogramming Environment and System Software

The XPRESS Project is one of four major projects of the DOE Office of Science Advanced Scientific Computing Research X-stack Program initiated in September, 2012. The purpose of XPRESS is to devise an innovative system software stack to enable practical and useful exascale computing around the end of the decade with near-term contributions to efficient and scalable operation of trans-Petaflops performance systems in the next two to three years; both for DOE mission-critical applications. To this end, XPRESS directly addresses critical challenges in computing of efficiency, scalability, and programmability through introspective methods of dynamic adaptive resource management and task scheduling.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

SU-E-T-76: A Software System to Monitor VMAT Plan Complexity in a Large Radiotherapy Centre

Purpose: To develop a system that analyses and reports the complexity of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) plans to aid in the decision making for streamlining patient specific dosimetric quality assurance (QA) tests. Methods: A software system, Delcheck, was developed in-house to calculate VMAT plan and delivery complexity using the treatment delivery file. Delcheck has the functionality to calculate multiple plan complexity metrics including the Li-Xing Modulation Index (LI-MI), multiplicative combination of Leaf Travel and Modulation Complexity Score (LTMCSv), Monitor Units per prescribed dose (MU/D) and the delivery complexity index (MIt) that incorporates the modulation of dose rate, leaf speed and gantry speed. Delcheck includes database functionality to store and compare plan metrics for a specified treatment site. The overall plan and delivery complexity is assessed based on the 95% conformance limit of the complexity metrics as Similar, More or Less complex. The functionality of the software was tested using 42 prostate conventional, 10 prostate SBRT and 15 prostate bed VMAT plans generated for an Elekta linear accelerator. Results: The mean(σ) of LI-MI for conventional, SBRT and prostate bed plans were 1690(486), 3215.4(1294) and 3258(982) respectively. The LTMCSv of the studied categories were 0.334(0.05), 0.325(0.07) and 0.3112(0.09). The MU/D of the studied categories were 2.4(0.4), 2.7(0.7) and 2.5(0.5). The MIt of the studied categories were 21.6(3.4), 18.2(3.0) and 35.9(6.6). The values of the complexity metrics show that LI-MI appeared to resolve the plan complexity better than LTMCSv and MU/D. The MIt value increased as the delivery complexity increased. Conclusion: The developed software was shown to be working as expected. In studied treatment categories Prostate bed plans are more complex in both plan and delivery and SBRT is more complex in plan and less complex in delivery as demonstrated by LI-MI and MIt. This project was funded through a Cancer Council NSW Project Grant (RG14-11)

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

PNNL Future Power Grid Initiative-developed GridOPTICS Software System (GOSS)

The power grid is changing and evolving. One aspect of this change is the growing use of smart meters and other devices, which are producing large volumes of useful data. However, in many cases, the data can’t be translated quickly into actionable guidance to improve grid performance. There's a need for innovative tools. The GridOPTICS(TM) Software System, or GOSS, developed through PNNL's Future Power Grid Initiative, is open source and became publicly available in spring 2014. The value of this middleware is that it easily integrates grid applications with sources of data and facilitates communication between them. Such a capability provides a foundation for developing a range of applications to improve grid management.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Software Systems for High-performance Quantum Computing

Quantum computing promises new opportunities for solving hard computational problems, but harnessing this novelty requires breakthrough concepts in the design, operation, and application of computing systems. We define some of the challenges facing the development of quantum computing systems as well as software-based approaches that can be used to overcome these challenges. Following a brief overview of the state of the art, we present models for the quantum programming and execution models, the development of architectures for hybrid high-performance computing systems, and the realization of software stacks for quantum networking. This leads to a discussion of the role that conventional computing plays in the quantum paradigm and how some of the current challenges for exascale computing overlap with those facing quantum computing.

high-performance computing↗

Tank Farm Safety Programmable System Software Management Plan

This Software Management Plan (SMP) applies to the configurable programmable logic controller (PLC) software configured as the Tank Farms Safety Programmable System (TFSPS). The TFSPS is identified as a safety-significant (SS) system to prevent loss of the safety function of SS structures, systems, and components (SSC). The TFSPS software is classified as grade level A configurable safety software. The TFSPS consists of safety instrumented systems (SIS) and safety instrumented alarm (SIA) systems.The purpose of this management plan is to describe how Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) will configure and manage the TFSPS software and the associated software life cycle (SLC). TFSPS software shall be configured by Process and Control Systems Engineering (P&CSE) as grade level A safety software for use by Production Operations as the primary stakeholders.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

XPRESS: eXascale PRogramming Environment and System Software

The XPRESS project is the research and development of a complete software architecture for Exascale computing. The four major R&D thrusts include: 1) an Exascale lightweight kernel operating system (LXK), based on the Kitten operating system (OS), to manage billion way hardware parallelism, management of faults and power, management of global virtual name space, and other features of future system architectures; 2) a runtime system (HPX-5), co-designed with LXK, based on the ParalleX execution model that supports dynamic resource management and task scheduling; 3) system interfaces for interoperability between the runtime system and both the OS and the runtime system (RIOS); 4) compilation strategies and systems to translate MPI and OpenMP legacy codes to a form that can be run with performance at least as good as a native code implementation. The software architecture development has been driven by performance evaluation of mini-applications developed at Department of Energy Co-Design Centers as well as ancillary in-house developed applications and benchmarks. Research on the ParalleX execution model has been driven by the development of formal semantics and model checkers for the execution model. The major components of the software architecture are: ParalleX execution model – guiding principles for co-design of components of the system stack with advances in locality management and task prioritization through introspection; HPX runtime system – support of application dynamic adaptive resource management, task scheduling, and introspective control policies; LXK operating system – lightweight kernel operating system for order-constant scalability and low/no noise to manage resources; RIOS – a realm of Exascale system operation unique in the XPRESS project that includes the relationship between the new generation of lightweight kernel operating systems and runtime system software; XPI advanced programming model – intermediate form and low-level (readable) programming interface reflecting the ParalleX model, providing a target for source-to- source high level parallel language translation, and supporting early direct programming experimentation and measurement; Performance models & metrics – providing parameters and their mutual sensitivities to guide co-design and quantify operational behavior; Legacy migration – ensuring seamless transition of legacy codes and programming methods to the future generation of ParalleX-based Exascale systems; . Experiments and evaluation – critical to determining degree of effectiveness and likelihood of ultimate success as well as guiding corrective design changes to achieve DOE objectives; and Applications – collaborations with Co-Design Centers and other mission critical codes. The exemplar implementation of the ParalleX execution model, HPX-5, has been released along with five fully ported applications (LULESH, HPCG, SSSP, WAMR, and DASHMM) and multiple microbenchmarks. Using these applications, the system architecture demonstrated dynamic load balancing through active migration, legacy code migration, and data-driven approaches to for graph-like applications. Crucially for Exascale and billion way parallelism, the needs and patterns of irregular applications in HPX-5 were addressed using local flow control rather than relying on globally synchronized data structures.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Autonomous Energy Management Software System for Small Commercial Buildings in Support of Decarbonization (Abstract)

The primary goal for the project is to develop and validate an autonomous energy management software (AEMS) system that will continuously optimize small commercial building operations by minimizing energy consumption and cost, providing a solution for maximizing decarbonization benefits from electrification of buildings. The work will leverage vast experience of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) research and development staff who have over two decades of experience in developing and successfully transferring software technologies to the private sector. This solution will be jointly developed with Intellimation LLC who plans to use it to scale their building energy efficiency offering. The project plan will include collaboratively working with Intellimation to package a set of solutions into the AEMS system, validate and demonstrate their capability, and value proposition through field demonstrations. If the deployment of the AEMS system optimizes RTUs’ set points, schedules, setbacks and optimal start and results in energy consumption reduction of 20%, the technical potential savings is approximately 675 trillion Btus of site energy savings and 2,000 trillion Btus of source energy. It will also result in carbon reductions of approximately 2.4 MMTCO2 and contribute to the climate change mitigation plans of many cities and states across the United States. Additional cost savings and emissions reduction are possible from management of peak electricity demand. The primary outcome will be an AEMS system that can be deployed at scale on small commercial buildings to improve operating efficiency.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗