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A microcode-based environment for noninvasive performance analysis

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Published:01 December 1986Publication History
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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.

References

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              • Published in

                cover image ACM SIGMICRO Newsletter
                ACM SIGMICRO Newsletter  Volume 17, Issue 4
                Dec. 1986
                163 pages
                ISSN:1050-916X
                DOI:10.1145/19530
                Issue’s Table of Contents
                • cover image ACM Conferences
                  MICRO 19: Proceedings of the 19th annual workshop on Microprogramming
                  December 1986
                  179 pages
                  ISBN:081860736X
                  DOI:10.1145/19551

                Copyright © 1986 Authors

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                Association for Computing Machinery

                New York, NY, United States

                Publication History

                • Published: 1 December 1986

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