Visualization in Cluster Environments
- ConchViz

This project involves a set of animation views that we have developed for illustrating the execution of parallel programs in cluster environments such as PVM (Parallel Virtual Machine) and the Conch Network Computing System. The animations depict the the message passing properties of parallel applications that run in the above concurrent environments. We are in the process of providing a comprehensive system that provides animation and performance visualization support for PVM. The focus of the system will be providing a palatable framework for PVM users to create application specific animations and performance visualization. Included below are some sample preliminary views from the library that we have created for the Conch system.

The Conch History view is a scrolling view that maintains a history of messages that have been sent or received. The Y-axis of this view is labeled with Lamport clock values with time proceeding from bottom to top. The X-axis is labeled with process identifiers. Squares that are associated with message sends are filled in with dark colors. Lighter colors of the same hue fill squares that are associated with the corresponding message receives. Message size is encoded by filling squares with various amounts of color. This can be deciphered by using the message size view, shown to the left of the history view. Referring back to the history view, the message type is placed in the lower center of each square. The number in the top center of each square can represent two different items of information. If the square represents a message send, then this number denotes the process identifier to whom the message is sent. In squares associated with message receives, this number depicts the process identifier from which the message was received.

This view is a snapshot of our Conch Lamport view. It is a more complex version of a Feynman diagram. In this view, the Y-axis is labeled with process identifiers and the X-axis is labeled with Lamport clock values. When a message is sent, a circle appears at the appropriate logical time coordinate. Similar to the message passing view, varying circle radii are used to denote message size and the color of the circle is the same as that used in the history view. When a message is delivered, an arrow "grows" from the coordinate of where the message was sent to the correct Lamport delivery time on the receiver's timeline. Simultaneously, the circle representing the message moves along this path and then disappears. This view is similar to the history view in the information it provides, but is very useful when trying to distinguish communication patterns.

In the Conch message passing view, all the processes are laid out around the outside circle. Messages are represented as circles that smoothly move into the center of the ring of processes when sent. When a process receives a message, the message moves from its position in the center of the ring to the process. The color of the message is the same color as used in the history view. Further, the radius of the circles representing messages is proportional to message size. Messages that are never delivered conspicuously remain in the center. Also, the smooth animation of message traffic helps portray actions such as message broadcasts.

In the Conch global view, each process has an associated oval whose color changes as the status of the process changes. A color code is used to distinguish the various states that a process is in during system execution.