Falcon-toward interactive parallel programs: the on-line steering of a molecular dynamics application

The paper focuses on the opportunities and costs of online steering as applied to a substantial parallel application. We demonstrate potential performance improvements through the use of the Falcon system, an experimental system for the online monitoring and steering of parallel programs. The visual presentation of program output along with animated displays of program performance information via Falcon´s monitoring system enables the online capture, analysis, and display of program information required for program steering. Falcon also provides the mechanisms for the manipulations of program state that accomplish this online steering