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arXiv · 2103.04916

Transparent Checkpointing for OpenGL Applications on GPUs

Abstract

This work presents transparent checkpointing of OpenGL applications, refining the split-process technique[1] for application in GPU-based 3D graphics. The split-process technique was earlier applied to checkpointing MPI and CUDA programs, enabling reinitialization of driver libraries. The presented design targets practical, checkpoint-package agnostic checkpointing of OpenGL applications. An early prototype is demonstrated on Autodesk Maya. Maya is a complex proprietary media-creation software suite used with large-scale rendering hardware for CGI (Computer-Generated Animation). Transparent checkpointing of Maya provides critically-needed fault tolerance, since Maya is prone to crash when artists use some of its bleeding-edge components. Artists then lose hours of work in re-creating their complex environment.

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David Hou, Jun Gan, Yue Li, Younes El Idrissi Yazami, Twinkle Jain. 2021-03-08. Transparent Checkpointing for OpenGL Applications on GPUs. https://arxiv.org/abs/2103.04916

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