Cowbird: Freeing CPUs to Compute by Offloading the Disaggregation of Memory
X Y Chen, Liangcheng Yu, Vincent Liu, Qizhen Zhang
Abstract
Memory disaggregation allows applications running on compute servers to expand their pool of available memory capacity by leveraging remote resources through low-latency networks. Unfortunately, in existing software-level disaggregation frameworks, the simple act of issuing requests to remote memory---paid on every access---can consume many CPU cycles. This overhead represents a direct cost to disaggregation, not only on the throughput of remote memory access but also on application logic, which must contend with the framework's CPU overheads.
Topics & Concepts
Computer scienceServerLatency (audio)Overhead (engineering)SoftwareMemory managementSimple (philosophy)ThroughputEmbedded systemOperating systemComputer networkTelecommunicationsSemiconductor memoryWirelessEpistemologyPhilosophyCloud Computing and Resource ManagementDistributed and Parallel Computing SystemsIoT and Edge/Fog Computing