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 Note: This version is outdated.
 Please contact (tommy [dot] janjusic [at] gmail [dot] com) (Tommy), for more info.

 

Gleipnir is a memory profiling and tracing tool based on the Valgrind binary instrumentation framework. It maps instruction load and store operations to program's internal data structures. The purpose is to use the tracing data to enable cache simulation with respect to program's internal data structures. 
The name Gleipnir comes from the Norse mythology. Gleipnir is a deceptively strong ribbon which was used to bind a mythical wolf named Fenrir. The idea behind Gleipnir is that, while simplistic, it can be used to bind the memory hogs in applications.

 contact: tjanjusic [at] unt [dot] edu

 

Instaling Gleipnir

The current version was tested and working on Linux 3.2.0-45 Ubuntu 12.04. 
Requirements: gcc-4.4.5 (should work with earlier versions up to 3.x.x), autotools 5.10, subversion 
for plotting, Latex/TexLive, gnuplot, and/or Latex beamer

Get the latest version of Valgrind and Gleipnir:

  $ svn co svn://svn.valgrind.org/valgrind/trunk valgrind
  $ cd valgrind
  $ svn co http://csrl.unt.edu/svn/tools/gleipnir gleipnir --username=guest

username: guest, password: Password2013

cd into the gleipnir directory

 $ cd gleipnir  (valgrind_src/gleipnir)

 

Before making Valgrind and Gleipnir: 

Apply debug patch and makefile patches.

 $ ./glconf -d

 

This will patch debuginfo.c and pub_tool_debuginfo.h for Gleipnir's use, and update Valgrind's makefiles and conf files.

Malloc wrap vs. Malloc replace? 
wrap - will patch Valgrind and wrap malloc calls (i.e. NOT USE Valgrind's malloc replacement function) - it's similar but different than standard glibc - malloc() implementation. '-p' applies the patch '-m wrap/malloc' configures gleipnir.

 $ ./glconf -p -m wrap

 

replace - will NOT patch Valgrind, but configure Gleipnir to use gl_malloc_replacement.c ( i.e. Allocation will call VG_(cli_malloc)() )

 $ ./glconf -m replace

 

Applying the patch will not (should not) break other tools. (fingers crossed) 

IMPORTANT: If you want to switch between the configurations (wrap vs replace), you have to distclean and start from top, I'm not sure why, maybe something to do with linking libraries - I really don't understand how everything is linked. 

Proceed with the normal Valgrind install

 autogen.sh; configure --prefix=<install dir> make; make install

 

Contact

For general questions please contact: tjanjusic [at] unt [dot] edu

Understanding Gleipnir

Follow this link for an explanation on how to run Gleipnir.

Gl_cSim

Gleipnir's traces are only useful in context of a cache simulator or other analysis software, follow this link for an explanation on Gl_cSim.