Employing Simulation to Facilitate the Design of Dynamic Binary Translators

Author(s)

do Rosario, Vanderson Martins ; Zinsly, Rafael ; Rigo, Sandro ; Borin, Edson ; IEEE COMP SOC

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: 2021 IEEE 33RD INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE AND HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING (SBAC-PAD 2021); v. N/A, p. 10-pg., 2021-01-01.

Abstract

Dynamic Binary Translation (DBT) is a sophisticated technique that allows the implementation of high-performance ISA emulators. In this technique, the guest code is compiled dynamically at runtime. Consequently, achieving good performance depends on several design decisions, including the shape of the regions of code being translated. Researchers and engineers explore these decisions to bring the best performance possible. However, a real DBT engine is a very sophisticated piece of software, and modifying one is a challenging and demanding task. Hence, we propose using simulation to evaluate the impact of design decisions on dynamic binary translators and present RAIn, an open-source DBT simulator that facilitates the test of DBT's design decisions, such as Region Formation Techniques (RFTs). RAIn outputs several statistics that support the analysis of how design decisions may affect the behavior and the performance of a real DBT. We validated RAIn running a set of experiments with six well-known RFTs (NET, MRET2, LEI, NETPlus, NET-R, and NETPlus-e-r) and showed that it could reproduce well-known results from the literature without the effort of implementing them on a real and thus complex dynamic binary translator engine. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/08293-7 - CCES - Center for Computational Engineering and Sciences
• Grantee: Munir Salomao Skaf
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC