An experimental validation of the PRO model for parallel and distributed computation

The Parallel Resource-Optimal (PRO) computation model was introduced by Gebremedhin et al. (2002) as a framework for the design and analysis of efficient parallel algorithms. The key features of the PRO model that distinguish it from previous parallel computation models are the full integration of resource-optimality into the design process and the use of a granularity function as a parameter for measuring quality. In this paper we, present experimental results on parallel algorithms, designed using the PRO model, for two representative problems: list ranking and sorting. The algorithms are implemented using SSCRAP, our environment for developing coarse-grained algorithms. The experimental performance results observed agree well with analytical predictions using the PRO model. Moreover, by using different platforms to run our experiments, we have been able to provide an integrated view of the modeling of an underlying architecture and the design and implementation of scalable parallel algorithms.