RFR: 8310031: Parallel: Implement better work distribution for large object arrays in old gen [v23]

[Thomas Schatzl]

On Thu, 19 Oct 2023 09:16:04 GMT, Richard Reingruber <rrich at openjdk.org> wrote:

>> This pr introduces parallel scanning of large object arrays in the old generation containing roots for young collections of Parallel GC. This allows for better distribution of the actual work (following the array references) as opposed to "stealing" from other task queues which can lead to inverse scaling demonstrated by small tests (attached to JDK-8310031) and also observed in gerrit production systems.
>> 
>> The algorithm to share scanning large arrays is supposed to be a straight
>> forward extension of the scheme implemented in
>> `PSCardTable::scavenge_contents_parallel`.
>> 
>> - A worker scans the part of a large array located in its stripe
>> 
>> - Except for the end of the large array reaching into a stripe which is scanned by the thread owning the previous stripe. This is just what the current implementation does: it skips objects crossing into the stripe.
>> 
>> - For this it is necessary that large arrays cover at least 3 stripes (see `PSCardTable::large_obj_arr_min_words`)
>>   
>> The implementation also makes use of the precise card marks for arrays. Only dirty regions are actually scanned.
>> 
>> #### Performance testing
>> 
>> ##### BigArrayInOldGenRR.java
>> 
>> [BigArrayInOldGenRR.java](https://bugs.openjdk.org/secure/attachment/104422/BigArrayInOldGenRR.java) is a micro benchmark that assigns new objects to a large array in a loop. Creating new array elements triggers young collections. In each collection the large array is scanned because of its references to the new elements in the young generation. The benchmark score is the geometric mean of the duration of the last 5 young collections (lower is better).
>> 
>> [BigArrayInOldGenRR.pdf](https://cr.openjdk.org/~rrich/webrevs/8310031/BigArrayInOldGenRR.pdf)([BigArrayInOldGenRR.ods](https://cr.openjdk.org/~rrich/webrevs/8310031/BigArrayInOldGenRR.ods)) presents the benchmark results with 1 to 64 gc threads.
>> 
>> Observations
>> 
>> * JDK22 scales inversely. Adding gc threads prolongues young collections. With 32 threads young collections take ~15x longer than single threaded.
>> 
>> * Fixed JDK22 scales well. Adding gc theads reduces the duration of young collections. With 32 threads young collections are 5x shorter than single threaded.
>> 
>> * With just 1 gc thread there is a regression. Young collections are 1.5x longer with the fix. I assume the reason is that the iteration over the array elements is interrupted at the end of a stripe which makes it less efficient. The prize for parallelization is paid ...
>
> Richard Reingruber has updated the pull request with a new target base due to a merge or a rebase. The incremental webrev excludes the unrelated changes brought in by the merge/rebase. The pull request contains 36 additional commits since the last revision:
> 
>  - Use better name: _preprocessing_active_workers
>  - Merge branch 'master'
>  - Remove obsolete comment
>  - Feedback Albert
>  - Merge branch 'master'
>  - Re-cleanup (was accidentally reverted)
>  - Make sure to scan obj reaching in just once
>  - Simplification suggested by Albert
>  - Don't overlap card table processing with scavenging for simplicity
>  - Cleanup
>  - ... and 26 more: https://git.openjdk.org/jdk/compare/8e97b7e4...f7965512

src/hotspot/share/gc/parallel/psCardTable.hpp line 91:

> 89:       return end;
> 90:     }
> 91:   };

Could these implementations moved into the .cpp file? They are only every referenced by that and should be inlined anyway to not clog the interface/hpp file too much.

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PR Review Comment: https://git.openjdk.org/jdk/pull/14846#discussion_r1365581799