1. CSci6702 Parallel Computing Andrew Rau-Chaplin arc@cs.dal.ca www.cs.dal.ca/~arc

2. Course Objectives Understand Parallel Architectures Systems Algorithms Learn how to Design efficient parallel algorithms, and Implement them on parallel machines Experience the “Research Process”

3. Official Outline This course explores various aspects of parallel computing including parallel architectures, algorithms, systems, programming languages and implementation issues. The focus is on solving real problems on existing parallel machines. Student will be expected to read recent research publications, and participate in significant parallel implementation projects.

4. Unofficial Outline Clusters, stacks of commodity boxes, have taken over the world of parallel computing. Clusters Learn how to take a stack of Pentium boxes and a Linux CD and build your own parallel machine. Now for the harder trick - learn how to design algorithms and systems that can take advantage of all those cycles.Pentium boxes and a Linux CD Be ready to read algorithms papers, write tricky C and MPI code and learn to love your parallel debugger and profiler.MPI parallel debugger and profiler

5. Resources Course web page: www.cs.dal.ca/~arc/teaching/CSci6702 All notes, readings, assignments Parallel Machines Available from ACENET

6. Assignments Assignments (40%) 1) Designing Parallel Algorithms 2) Programming Clusters in MPI SMP machines in OpenMP Seminar (20%) Seminar on recent research topic. Groups of 2. Topics to be approved.

7. Research Project (40%) Select your own topic Algorithms, Systems, or Application topics Components: Literature review, some research or programming work, final paper, presentation Main Deliverable: Conference style paper plus short in-class talk Groups of 1-2 See project description page Mini Conference Note: Papers must be done in LaTex!