VxWorks 6.x Symmetric Multiprocessing

The VxWorks 6.x Symmetric Multiprocessing course presents several methods to optimize application performance using parallel design techniques. Issues encountered in migrating applications to parallel design are discussed in detail. Specifics of creating and migrating applications to Wind River VxWorks® symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) technology are also addressed.

After taking this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the multi-core processor architecture.
• Distinguish between multi-core and multiprocess environments.
• Describe the VxWorks SMP system configuration.
• Understand and solve pitfalls of serial programming in the SMP environment.
• Migrate applications from the UP (uniprocessor) to the SMP environment.
• Analyze concurrency using debug tools.
• Perform run-time analysis of applications in the UP vs. SMP environment.

• Wind River VxWorks 6.9
• Wind River Workbench 3.3
• Wind River Simics 4.6

• Application engineers
• System integrators and architects

Day 1

Introduction to SMP

• Introduction to Multi-core and Multiprocessing History
• SMP Overview
• Other Multi-core Configurations
• Terminology and Abbreviations

VxWorks SMP Architecture

• SMP Architecture Overview
• Cache and Cache Coherence
• Sequential Memory Model
• Mutual Exclusion
• Spinlocks and Deadlocks
• Memory Barrier
• Development Challenges

LAB: Getting Started

VxWorks SMP Configuration

• VxWorks SMP Components
• Software and Hardware Requirements
• BSP

LAB: VxWorks SMP Configuration

LAB: Implicit Synchronization

VxWorks SMP Programming

• Spinlocks
• Read and Write Semaphores
• CPU Affinity
• Interrupt CPU Affinity
• Atomic Operations
• Memory Barriers
• CPU Information and Management
• UP Incompatibilities

LAB: Data Synchronization

LAB: Core Affinity and Reservation

Day 2

Debugging and Analysis Tools

• Multi-core Debugging Overview
• Breakpoints
• Multiple Context Debugging
• On-Chip Debugging Tools
• Run-Time Analysis Tools (System Viewer)
• SMP Image Configuration
• Kernel Shell Debugging

LAB: Debugger

Introduction to Software Parallelism

• SMP Limits
• Parallel Software Design
• Implementing a Parallel Programming Model
• Threading
• Parallelism Examples
• Pthreads, OpenMP, and MPI

Uniprocessor to SMP Migration

• Migration Guideline
• Three-Step Migration Plan
• Step 1: Update to Current VxWorks Version
• Step 2: Migrate to SMP API
• Step 3: SMP Optimization

LAB: Performance Measurement

VxBus

• VxBus Introduction
• Benefits
• VxBus Terminology
• Component Configuration
• Interrupts
• Porting Strategies

VxWorks 6.x SMP Scheduler

• Overview
• VxWorks UP Scheduler
• VxWorks SMP
• VxWorks SMP Scheduler

Prerequisite Courses

• VxWorks 6.x and Workbench Essentials

Prerequisite Skills

• C programming
• Functional knowledge of UNIX
• Basic VxWorks API knowledge
• Real-time programming basics

• This two-day expert-led course consists of nine lectures and seven lab sessions.
• Attendees use VxWorks 6.9, Workbench 3.3, and Simics 4.6 to gain experience with the topics presented.
• Participants receive individual guidance from an expert engineer who has extensive experience with Wind River technologies.

• Multi-core Technologies and Designing for Concurrency
• VxWorks 6.x Asymmetric Multiprocessing
• Wind River Hypervisor Essentials
• VxWorks 6.x Device Drivers