THE NAS KERNEL BENCHMARK PROGRAM

THE NAS KERNEL BENCHMARK PROGRAM
David H. Bailey and John T. Barton
Numerical Aerodynamic Simulations Systems Division
NASA Ames Research Center
June 13, 1986
SUMMARY
A benchmark test program that measures supercomputer performance has been devel-
oped for the use of the NAS (Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation) Projects O ce at NASA
Ames Research Center. This benchmark program is described in detail and the speci c
ground rules for running the program as a performance test are discussed.
1INTRODUCTION
A benchmark test program has been developed for use by the NAS program at NASA
Ames Research Center to aid in the evaluation of supercomputer performance. This pro-
gram consists of seven Fortran test kernels that perform calculations that are typical of
Ames supercomputing. It is expected that the performance of a supercomputer system
on this program will provide an accurate projection of the performance of the system on
actual NAS program computer codes. This paper describes the test program in detail and
lists the speci c ground rules that have been established for running the program as a
performance test.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The NAS Kernel Benchmark Program consists of approximately 1000 lines of Fortran
code, organized into seven separate tests. Each individual test consists of a loop that it-
eratively calls a certain subroutine. These subroutines were chosen after review of many
of the calculations currently being performed on Ames supercomputers and by ...