Visualizing parallel simulations in network computing environments: a case study

Parallel discrete event simulation systems (PDES) are used to simulate large-scale applications such as modeling telecommunication networks, transportation grids, and battlefield scenarios. While a large amount of PDES research has focused on employing multiprocessors and multicomputers, the use of networks of workstations interconnected through Ethernet or ATM has evolved into a popular and effective platform for PDES. To improve performance in these environments, we investigate the use of graphical visualization to provide insight into performance evaluation and simulator execution. We began with a general-purpose network computing visualization system, PVaniM, and used it to investigate the execution of an advanced version of Time Warp, called Georgia Tech Time Warp (GTW), which executes in network computing environments. Because PDES systems such as GTW are essentially middleware that support their own applications, we soon realized these systems require their own middleware-specific visualization support. To this end we have extended PVaniM into a new system, called PVaniM-GTW by adding middleware-specific views. Our experiences with PVaniM-GTW indicate that these enhancements enable one to better satisfy the needs of PDES middleware than general-purpose visualization systems while also not requiring the development of application specific visualizations by the end user.