Memory Management

NVSHMEM provides a set of APIs for managing the symmetric heap. The APIs allow one to dynamically allocate, deallocate, reallocate and align symmetric data objects in the symmetric heap.

NVSHMEM_MALLOC, SHMEM_FREE, SHMEM_ALIGN

void *nvshmem_malloc(size_t size)
void nvshmem_free(void *ptr)
void *nvshmem_align(size_t alignment, size_t size)
size [IN]
The size, in bytes, of a block to be allocated from the symmetric heap.
ptr [IN]
Symmetric address of an object in the symmetric heap.
alignment [IN]
Byte alignment of the block allocated from the symmetric heap.

Description

The nvshmem_malloc, shmem_free, and nvshmem_align routines are collective operations that require participation by all PEs.

The nvshmem_malloc routine returns the symmetric address of a block of at least size bytes, which shall be suitably aligned so that it may be assigned to a pointer to any type of object. This space is allocated from the symmetric heap (in contrast to malloc, which allocates from the private heap). When size is zero, the nvshmem_malloc routine performs no action and returns a null pointer.

The nvshmem_align routine allocates a block in the symmetric heap that has a byte alignment specified by the alignment argument. The value of alignment shall be a multiple of sizeof(void *) that is also a power of two. Otherwise, the behavior is undefined. When size is zero, the nvshmem_align routine performs no action and returns a null pointer.

The nvshmem_free routine causes the block to which ptr points to be deallocated, that is, made available for further allocation. If ptr is a null pointer, no action is performed.

The nvshmem_malloc, shmem_align, and shmem_free routines are provided so that multiple PEs in a program can allocate symmetric, remotely accessible memory blocks. These memory blocks can then be used with NVSHMEM communication routines. When no action is performed, these routines return without performing a barrier. Otherwise, each of these routines includes at least one call to a procedure that is semantically equivalent to nvshmem_barrier_all: nvshmem_malloc and shmem_align call a barrier on exit; and nvshmem_free calls a barrier on entry. This ensures that all PEs participate in the memory allocation, and that the memory on other PEs can be used as soon as the local PE returns. The user is also responsible for calling these routines with identical argument(s) on all PEs; if differing ptr, size, or alignment arguments are used, the behavior of the call and any subsequent NVSHMEM calls is undefined.

Returns

The nvshmem_malloc routine returns the symmetric address of the allocated space; otherwise, it returns a null pointer.

The nvshmem_free routine returns no value.

(which may have moved); otherwise, all PEs return a null pointer.

The nvshmem_align routine returns an aligned symmetric address whose value is a multiple of alignment; otherwise, it returns a null pointer.

Notes

The total size of the symmetric heap is determined at job startup. One can specify the size of the heap using the NVSHMEM_SYMMETRIC_SIZE environment variable (where available).

The nvshmem_malloc, and shmem_free routines differ from the private heap allocation routines in that all PEs in a program must call them (a barrier is used to ensure this).

NVSHMEM_CALLOC

void *nvshmem_calloc(size_t count, size_t size)
count [IN]
The number of elements to allocate.
size [IN]
The size in bytes of each element to allocate.

Description

The nvshmem_calloc routine is a collective operation on the world team that allocates a region of remotely-accessible memory for an array of count objects of size bytes each and returns a pointer to the lowest byte address of the allocated symmetric memory. The space is initialized to all bits zero.

If the allocation succeeds, the pointer returned shall be suitably aligned so that it may be assigned to a pointer to any type of object. If the allocation does not succeed, or either count or size is 0, the return value is a null pointer.

The values for count and size shall each be equal across all PEs calling nvshmem_calloc; otherwise, the behavior is undefined.

When count or size is 0, the nvshmem_calloc routine returns without performing a barrier. Otherwise, this routine calls a procedure that is semantically equivalent to nvshmem_barrier_all on exit.

Returns

The nvshmem_calloc routine returns a pointer to the lowest byte address of the allocated space; otherwise, it returns a null pointer.