Software caching on cache-coherent multiprocessors

Abstract

The authors explore the utility of software caching on a machine with coherent caches. In particular, they show that by caching at the application level one can avoid the problem of false sharing on cache-coherent machines. They compare the performance of software caching with that of other techniques for alleviating false sharing and show that software caching performs better than the alternatives when the reference behavior of an application changes dynamically. It is concluded that software caching, as well as other techniques developed for noncoherent shared-memory multiprocessors, can be profitably used on machines with hardware coherent caches and that programs based on these techniques are efficient across a variety of shared-memory machines.<>