Modeling Buffer Occupancy in bittide Systems

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Lall, Sanjay, Spalink, Tammo
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Lall, Sanjay
Spalink, Tammo
author_facet Lall, Sanjay
Spalink, Tammo
contents The bittide mechanism enables logically synchronous computation across distributed systems by leveraging the continuous frame transmission inherent to wired networks such as Ethernet. Instead of relying on a global clock, bittide uses a decentralized control system to adjust local clock frequencies, ensuring all nodes operate with a consistent notion of time by utilizing elastic buffers at each node to absorb frequency variations. This paper presents an analysis of the steady-state occupancy of these elastic buffers, a critical factor influencing system latency. Using a fluid model of the bittide system, we prove that buffer occupancy converges and derive an explicit formula for the steady-state value in terms of system parameters, including network topology, physical latencies, and controller gains. This analysis provides valuable insights for optimizing buffer sizes and minimizing latency in bittide-based distributed systems.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2410_05432
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Modeling Buffer Occupancy in bittide Systems
Lall, Sanjay
Spalink, Tammo
Systems and Control
The bittide mechanism enables logically synchronous computation across distributed systems by leveraging the continuous frame transmission inherent to wired networks such as Ethernet. Instead of relying on a global clock, bittide uses a decentralized control system to adjust local clock frequencies, ensuring all nodes operate with a consistent notion of time by utilizing elastic buffers at each node to absorb frequency variations. This paper presents an analysis of the steady-state occupancy of these elastic buffers, a critical factor influencing system latency. Using a fluid model of the bittide system, we prove that buffer occupancy converges and derive an explicit formula for the steady-state value in terms of system parameters, including network topology, physical latencies, and controller gains. This analysis provides valuable insights for optimizing buffer sizes and minimizing latency in bittide-based distributed systems.
title Modeling Buffer Occupancy in bittide Systems
topic Systems and Control
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.05432