What is the best way to get started now?

[phil_d_]

I am just getting started with Phi and wanted to know what is the best way to get coding and testing that code?

I have been looking around for the last couple of days on the intel site and have found reference to starter kits from a couple of years ago and I see that you can get remote time on nodes too.  Just wanted to see what would be a good efficient (read as cheap) starting point so that I can have some valid performance data for proof of concept before investing in a full server.

Thanks,

Phil

[SergeyKostrov]

Here is a list of web-links I've saved during my initial phase:

 https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/what-disclosures-has-intel-made-about-knights-landing
 https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/programming-and-compiling-for-intel-many-integrated-core-architecture
 https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-xeon-phi-processor-applications-performance-proof-points
 https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-xeon-phi-coprocessor-code-named-knights-landing-application-readiness
 https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/xeon-phi-software
 https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-xeon-phi-processor-software-archive
 https://software.intel.com/en-us/forums/intel-many-integrated-core/topic/360754
 https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/quick-start-guide-for-the-intel-xeon-phi-processor-x200-product-family
 https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/porting-applications-from-knights-corner-to-knights-landing
 https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-xeon-phi-x200-processor-memory-modes-and-cluster-modes-configuration-and-use-cases
 https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/high-bandwidth-memory-hbm-how-will-it-benefit-your-application
 https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/using-memtest86-on-intel-xeon-phi-processor-x200-product-family
 https://software.intel.com/en-us/blogs/2015/09/23/a-guide-to-optimization-techniques-for-the-intel-mic-architecture

 Getting Ready for Intel Xeon Phi x200 Product family
 https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/getting-ready-for-KNL

 Multi-Channel DRAM (MCDRAM) and High-Bandwidth Memory ( HBM )
 https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/multi-channel-dram-mcdram-and-high-bandwidth-memory-hbm

 Process and Thread Affinity for Intel Xeon Phi Processors
 https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/process-and-thread-affinity-for-intel-xeon-phi-processors-x200

 Knights Landing SW Optimization Manual
 https://software.intel.com/en-us/forums/knl-nda/topic/611952

 Intel Xeon Phi Processor Performance Monitoring Reference Manual
 https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-xeon-phi-x200-family-processor-performance-monitoring-reference-manual
 

[SergeyKostrov]

There are lots of articles on Intel web site and I recommend you to spend a couple of hours on reviewing what you'll find. Some of them could be to be reviewed quickly, and some required more attention.

[gaston-hillar]

Phil,

Sergey has provided a full list of valuable articles. I will add you the book I consider the best resource to understand the latest Xeon Phi architectures and how to code for them:

Intel Xeon Phi Processor High Performance Programming
2nd Edition
Knights Landing Edition
Authors: James Reinders, James Jeffers and Avinash Sodani
eBook ISBN: 9780128091951
Paperback ISBN: 9780128091944
Imprint: Morgan Kaufmann
Published Date: 17th June 2016
Page Count: 662

If you want to understand everything about Xeon Phi, the book is a must read.

Disclaimer: I've read all the books written by James Reinders about parallel programming and I'm a big fan of his way of explaining hardware architecture + how to code to take advantage of the underlying hardware architecture.

[gaston-hillar]

Phil,

I forgot to include links with detailed information about the book I mentioned. The following links provide you additional information.

Intel Xeon Phi Processor High Performance Programming, 2nd Edition - Publisher

Intel Xeon Phi Processor High Performance Programming, 2nd Edition - Amazon.com

[gaston-hillar]

Phil,

In April, you can register for "Programmer's Guide to Knights Landing" webinar that will be available many days. Here is the link with more information about the Webinar: https://software.intel.com/en-us/blogs/2016/04/01/programmers-guide-to-knights-landing-free-webinar

[phil_d_]

Sergey and Gastón 

Thank you both for all the great information!  This looks like just what I was looking for and should great sources for Phi.

[gaston-hillar]

Phil,

It's great to know you found the info I added useful. :)

[Quant_Geek1]

Phil,

You might also want to consider getting the older generation, Knights Corner, which can be obtained for a relatively cheap cost on ebay and other resellers now that the Knights Landing is available.  I recently picked up two brand-new SC7120s for a killer price (few hundred dollars) and the other, lower models are practically a give-away.  That is a perfect platform to get started on the Phi processors, if you don't want to spend thousands on a single newer model.

Regards,

John

[gaston-hillar]

John M. wrote:

Phil,

You might also want to consider getting the older generation, Knights Corner, which can be obtained for a relatively cheap cost on ebay and other resellers now that the Knights Landing is available.  I recently picked up two brand-new SC7120s for a killer price (few hundred dollars) and the other, lower models are practically a give-away.  That is a perfect platform to get started on the Phi processors, if you don't want to spend thousands on a single newer model.

Regards,

John

Phil, in case you want to consider John's advice, you can check the full list of Knights Corner coprocessors here: http://ark.intel.com/products/codename/57721/Knights-Corner

[MikeP_Intel]

Also check out this option for free remote access to Intel® Xeon Phi™ Processors (https://software.intel.com/en-us/xeon-phi/x200-processor/remote-access).

[SergeyKostrov]

>>Also check out this option for free remote access to Intel® Xeon Phi™ Processors (https://software.intel.com/en-us/xeon-phi/x200 >>-processor/remote-access). Remote access to a KNL server is one of the most critical task everyone needs to complete first when starting a process of learning KNL architecture.