Realizing deterministic performance on Linux

Samartha Chandrashekar, Shekhar Suman

Abstract: Our project aims to realize deterministic performance
characteristics for userspace applications in the context of changing
system loads on a Linux kernel running on the x86 architecture.

We will hunt down the most significant sources of indeterminacy in the
performance profiles of applications and address each of these to
realize performance that is predictable within a small tolerance band.

We will run several bespoke microbenchmarks in the context of
dynamically varying system loads and demonstrate a credible reduction
in the standard deviation and variance of performance yardsticks with
the application of our modifications. Additionally, we will build
construct a high-resolution timer to facilitate performance
measurements at a fine granularity.