Continuous Bytecode Instruction Counting for CPU Consumption Estimation

Andrea Camesi
2006
Report or working paper

As an execution platform, the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) provides many benefits in terms of portability and security. However, this advantage turns into an obstacle when it comes to determining the computing resources (CPU, memory) a program will require to run properly in a given environment. In this paper, we build on the Java Resource Accounting Framework, Second Edition (J-RAF2), to investigate the use of bytecode instruction counting (BIC) as an estimation of real CPU consumption. We show that for all of the tested platforms there is a stable, application-specific ratio of bytecodes per unit of CPU time – the bytecode rate (BR) – that can be used for translating a BIC value into the corresponding CPU consumption. Possible extensions and applications of this property are discussed.

About this result

This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.

Related concepts (4)

Processor power dissipation

Processor power dissipation or processing unit power dissipation is the process in which computer processors consume electrical energy, and dissipate this energy in the form of heat due to the resistance in the electronic circuits. Variable TDP Designing CPUs that perform tasks efficiently without overheating is a major consideration of nearly all CPU manufacturers to date. Historically, early CPUs implemented with vacuum tubes consumed power on the order of many kilowatts.

Java virtual machine

A Java virtual machine (JVM) is a virtual machine that enables a computer to run Java programs as well as programs written in other languages that are also compiled to Java bytecode. The JVM is detailed by a specification that formally describes what is required in a JVM implementation. Having a specification ensures interoperability of Java programs across different implementations so that program authors using the Java Development Kit (JDK) need not worry about idiosyncrasies of the underlying hardware platform.

CPU time

CPU time (or process time) is the amount of time for which a central processing unit (CPU) was used for processing instructions of a computer program or operating system, as opposed to elapsed time, which includes for example, waiting for input/output (I/O) operations or entering low-power (idle) mode. The CPU time is measured in clock ticks or seconds. Often, it is useful to measure CPU time as a percentage of the CPU's capacity, which is called the CPU usage. CPU time and CPU usage have two main uses.