Skip to main content

Modelling and Model Checking a Distributed Shared Memory Consistency Protocol

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Application and Theory of Petri Nets 1998 (ICATPN 1998)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 1420))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

Distributed Shared Memory (DSM) systems provide the abstraction of a common virtual address space across a network of processors. Such systems employ a variety of protocols to maintain a consistent view of data across all local memories. Li and Hudak proposed several of the pioneering protocols for DSM [LH 89]. We have used both Petri net modelling and model checking to explore some of their protocols. Our work has detected inefficiencies, unstated assumptions, and errors in the original protocol descriptions. This paper presents Petri net models for one protocol at two layers of abstraction. For each model, we describe corresponding specifications for model checking and provide verification statistics. This combination of models and specifications gives different views of the protocol, inspiring greater confidence in the correctness of our analysis than if we had used only one approach.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Adve, S. V., Gharachorloo, K.: Shared Memory Consistency Models: A Tutorial. In IEEE Computer, 29,12 (Dec. 1996) 66–76

    Google Scholar 

  2. Baer, J-L., Girault, C.: A Petri net model for a solution to the cache coherence problem. In Proc. First International Conference on Supercomputing Systems, St Petersburg, Florida (1985) 680–689

    Google Scholar 

  3. Barroso, L.A., Dubois, M.: Cache Coherence on a Slotted Ring. In IEEE Trans. on Computers, 44,7, Berlin, Germany (Sept. 1991)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Blondel, X., Rosenfeld, L., Ruget, F., Singhoff, F.: Expériences de Mise au Point d’un Algorithme Réparti. To appear in Technique et Science Informatiques (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Carter, J., Bennett, J., Zwaenepoel, W.: Implementation and Performance of Munin. In Proc. 13th ACM Symposium on Operating System Principles (1991) 152–164

    Google Scholar 

  6. Carter, J., Bennett, J., Zwaenepoel, W.: Techniques for Reducing Consistencyrelated Communication in Distributed Shared-memory Systems. ACM Trans. Comput. Syst. 13,3 (Aug. 1995) 205–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Chatelain, C., Girault, C., Haddad, S.: Specification and Properties of a Cache Coherence Protocol Model. In Proc. 7th European Workshop on Application and Theory of Petri nets, Oxford England (June 1986), Advances in Petri nets 87, LNCS., Vol. 266, Springer-Verlag (1987) 1–20

    Google Scholar 

  8. Chiola, G., Dutheillet, C., Francheschinis, G., Haddad, S.: A Symbolic Reachability Graph for Coloured Petri Nets, Theoretical Computer Science, Vol. 176 (1997) 39–65

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  9. Clarke, E., Grumberg, O., Hiraishi, H., Jha, S., Long, D., McMillan, K., Ness, L.: Verification of the Futurebus+ Cache Coherency Protocol. In Proc. Conf. on Computer Hardware Description Languages and their Application. North-Holland (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Couvreur, J.M., Haddad, S., Peyre, J.F.: Generative Families of Positive Invariants in Coloured Nets Sub-Classes. In Advances in Petri nets 87, LNCS., Vol. 674, Springer-Verlag (1993) 51–70

    Google Scholar 

  11. Golpalakrishnan, G., Khandekar, D., Kuramkote, R., Nalamasu, M.: Case Studies in Symbolic Model Checking: Verification of an Arbiter and DSM Protocols. Tech. Report UUCS-94-009, Dept. of Computer Science, Univ. of Utah (March 1994)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Grahlmann, B.: The PEP Tool. In Proc. 9th Int’l. Conf. on Computer-Aided Verification, Haifa, Israel, LNCS., Vol. 1254, Springer-Verlag (1997) 440–443

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hardin, R. H., Har’El, Z., Kurshan, R.P.: COSPAN. In Proc. Int’l. Conf. on Computer-Aided Verification, LNCS Vol., 1102, Springer-Verlag (1996) 423–427

    Google Scholar 

  14. Holzmann, G.: Design and Validation of Computer Protocols, Prentice Hall (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Jensen, K. Rozenberg, G. (eds.): High Level Petri Nets, Theory and Applications, Springer-Verlag (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Jensen, K.: Coloured Petri Nets: Basic Concepts, Analysis Methods and Practical Use, Vol. 1, 2 and 3, Springer-Verlag (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Jensen, K.: Condensed State Spaces for Symmetrical Coloured Petri Nets, Formal Methods in System Design, Vol. 9,7 (1996) 7–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Keheler, P.: The Relative Importance of Concurrent Writers and Weak Consistency Models. In Proc. 16th Int’l Conf. on Distributed Computing Systems, IEEE Computer Society Press (May 1992) 91–98

    Google Scholar 

  19. Keheler, P., Cox, A.L., Zwaenepoel, W.: Lazy Release Consistency for Software Distributed Shared Memory. In Proc. 19th Annual Int’l Symposium on Computer Architecture (May 1992) 13–21

    Google Scholar 

  20. Li, K.: Shared Virtual Memory on Loosely Coupled Multiprocessors. PhD dissertation, Dept. of Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven, Conn., Tech Rep YALEU-RR-492 (May 1992)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Li, K.: IVY: A Shared Virtual Memory System for Parallel Computing. In Proc. 1988 Int’l Conf. on Parallel Processing, Vol. II (1988) 94–101

    Google Scholar 

  22. Li, K. Hudak, P: Memory Coherence in Shared Virtual Memory Systems. ACM Trans. on Computer Systems, Vol. 7,4 (Nov. 1989) 321–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Lindemann, C., Schön, F.: Modeling Relaxed Memory Consistency Protocols. In Proc. 8th Int’l Conf. on Modelling Techniques and Tools for Computer Systems Performance Evaluation, Heidelberg, Germany (Sept 1995)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Ip, C. N., Dill, D.: Better Verification Through Symmetry. In Formal Methods in System Design, Vol. 9,1/2 (1996) 41–76

    Google Scholar 

  25. Pong, F. Dubois, M.: Verification Techniques for Cache Coherence Protocols. ACM Computing Surveys, Vol. 29,1, (March 1997) 82–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Ricart, G. Agrawala, A.: An Optimal Algorithm for Mutual Exclusion. Comm. ACM, Vol. 24,1, (Jan. 1981) 9–17

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  27. Suzuki, I. Kasami, T.: A Distributed Mutual Exclusion Algorithm. ACM Trans. on Computer Systems, Vol. 3,4 (Nov 1985) 344–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Varpaaniemi, K., Heljanko, K., Lilius, J.: Prod 3.2-An Advanced Tool for Efficient Reachability Analysis, In Proc. 9th Int’l. Conf. on Computer-Aided Verification, Haifa, Israel, LNCS, Vol. 1254, Springer-Verlag (1997) 472–475

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1998 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Fisler, K., Girault, C. (1998). Modelling and Model Checking a Distributed Shared Memory Consistency Protocol. In: Desel, J., Silva, M. (eds) Application and Theory of Petri Nets 1998. ICATPN 1998. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 1420. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-69108-1_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-69108-1_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-64677-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-69108-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics