Archives

All posts by Todd

Code::Blocks Setup update

Posted by Todd on February 9, 2013
Posted in: Code::Blocks, Getting Started, OpenCL.

So, it appears that the problem I was experiencing was due to x86 vs 64bit. I changed the compiler settings to reference Win32 for linker and everything magically worked.

I also added a reference under the Linker Settings/Link libraries to the OpenCL.lib although I doubt that made the difference.

I ran a basic OpenCL device finder (https://www.sharcnet.ca/help/index.php/OpenCL) and it returned the info on my NVidia Quadro FX 570.

I will now begin to run various algorithms starting with some basic vector calculus (http://www.thebigblob.com/getting-started-with-opencl-and-gpu-computing/).

That is all for now.

OpenCL Programming Guide Chapter 1 Review

Posted by Todd on December 3, 2012
Posted in: Books, OpenCL, Primer, Review. Tagged: , , .

Chapter 1: An Introduction to OpenCL

Although this chapter at times seems like an extended sales pitch for parallel computation and OpenCL more specifically, it does a good job of mixing high-level concepts with low-level specifics. The highlight in this chapter is the introduction to the parallel programming paradigm, i.e. context-host-kernel as well as work-items/work-groups. As my prior experience has been in sequential (non-parallel) application and database development, these concepts (together) are somewhat unfamiliar and require attention. Initially they can be counter-intuitive, but once the main concepts of context and kernel are grasped, the model begins to take shape and is very straight-forward. I could publish my own primer but that would seem fruitless when there are plenty out there right now.

Chapter 1 is a primer but requires somewhat of a computer engineering background to follow. A less intensive primer is available here or here or here and a basic tutorial is here.

Code::Blocks setup cont’d

Posted by Todd on December 3, 2012
Posted in: Code::Blocks, Getting Started, OpenCL, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , .

Despite using the “-lOpenCL” flag in the linker options under the “Linker Settings” tab for the OpenCL compiler settings in Code::Blocks, I still receive the following build errors:

obj\Debug\main.o||In function `main’:|
C:\Users\txt103120\Desktop\CodeBlocks\device_check\main.cpp|27|undefined reference to `clGetPlatformIDs@12’|
C:\Users\txt103120\Desktop\CodeBlocks\device_check\main.cpp|29|undefined reference to `clGetDeviceIDs@24’|
C:\Users\txt103120\Desktop\CodeBlocks\device_check\main.cpp|44|undefined reference to `clGetDeviceInfo@20’|
C:\Users\txt103120\Desktop\CodeBlocks\device_check\main.cpp|71|undefined reference to `clGetDeviceInfo@20’|
||=== Build finished: 4 errors, 0 warnings ===|

I found this post on StackOverflow that seems relevant:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7783345/library-is-linked-but-reference-is-undefined

Now, I need to determine the course of action to resolve this.

Code::Blocks setup

Posted by Todd on November 7, 2012
Posted in: Code::Blocks, Getting Started, OpenCL. Tagged: , , .

So, I am following this setup process…

http://www.obellianne.fr/alexandre/tutorials/OpenCL/tuto_opencl_codeblocks.php

So far, it is a useful tutorial but there are a few caveats for someone not yet familiar with C++ and C::B that I thought are worth mentioning.

First: if you are using an NVIDIA GPU you need to DL/install the CUDA toolkit.

https://developer.nvidia.com/cuda-downloads

Then, when setting the compiler string (under Search Directories in C::B) for Windows it should look something like “C:\Program Files\NVIDIA GPU Computing Toolkit\CUDA\v5.0\include”.  This relates directly to the include statement at the beginning of your code, “#include <CL/cl.h>”. Similarly, your linker string should be something like “C:\Program Files\NVIDIA GPU Computing Toolkit\CUDA\v5.0\lib\x64”.

Finally, I still received 4 errors after compiling the tutorial’s example code.  I will post a resolution to those errors soon.

Project Synopsis

Posted by Todd on November 5, 2012
Posted in: Project. Tagged: .

The primary intent of this research project is to investigate the use of programmable logic for creating indexes for database management systems.  I have identified the database index as a concurrent process of the system that is well suited for a parallel hardware processing solution.  In addition, I will be exploring OpenCL, a high-level language created for parallel processing solutions, as the language of choice for this solution as it provides an environment that is suitable to a Database Administrator (DBA) or database programmer that might not be familiar with programmable logic.  I will be identifying, reading and reviewing a book on OpenCL for FPGAs in order to learn the language.  As this is a relatively new subject, there are few resources currently available and none on campus.  Finally, in order to design my solution and test my findings I will purchase a Zedboard which utilizes a Xilinx Zynq 7000 All Programmable SoC.  This platform contains both an ARM based CPU and an FPGA.  The flexibility of this system will allow me to compare a parallel processing solution with one that does not use a parallel process on the same hardware system.  This should ensure an accurate comparison.