Run-time Defragmentation for Dynamically Reconfigurable Hardware

• Type: Chapter or Part of a Book
• Date: 2005

Authors

Manuel G. Gericota (Author) Other; Gustavo R. Alves (Author) Other; Miguel L. Silva (Author) Other; José M. Ferreira (Author) FEUP

Book

Title: New Algorithms, Architectures and Applications for Reconfigurable Computing

Pages: 117-129

ISBN: 978-1-4020-3127-4

Publisher: Springer

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Electrical engineering, Electronic engineering, Information engineering

Other information

DOI: 10.1007/1-4020-3128-9_10

Abstract (EN): Reconfigurable computing experienced a considerable expansion in the last few years, due in part to the fast run-time partial reconfiguration features offered by recent SRAM-based Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), which allowed the implementation in real-time of dynamic resource allocation strategies, with multiple independent functions from different applications sharing the same logic resources in the space and temporal domains. However, when the sequence of reconfigurations to be performed is not predictable, the efficient management of the logic space available becomes the greatest challenge posed to these systems. Resource allocation decisions have to be made concurrently with system operation, taking into account function priorities and optimizing the space currently available. As a consequence of the unpredictability of this allocation procedure, the logic space becomes fragmented, with many small areas of free resources failing to satisfy most requests and so remaining unused. A rearrangement of the currently running functions is therefore necessary, so as to obtain enough contiguous space to implement incoming functions, avoiding the spreading of their components and the resulting degradation of system performance. A novel active relocation procedure for Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs) is herein presented, able to carry out online rearrangements, defragmenting the available FPGA resources without disturbing functions currently running.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific