OpenMP* Support Libraries

The Intel® Compiler provides support libraries for OpenMP*. There are several kinds of libraries:

Performance: supports parallel OpenMP* execution.
Stubs: supports serial execution of OpenMP* applications.

Each kind of library is available for both dynamic and static linking on Linux* and OS X* operating systems. Only dynamic linking is supported on Windows* operating systems.

Performance Libraries

To use these libraries, specify the [Q]openmp compiler option.

Options that use OpenMP* are available for both Intel® and non-Intel microprocessors, but these options may perform additional optimizations on Intel® microprocessors than they perform on non-Intel microprocessors. The list of major, user-visible OpenMP* constructs and features that may perform differently on Intel® microprocessors than on non-Intel microprocessors includes: locks (internal and user visible), the SINGLE construct, barriers (explicit and implicit), parallel loop scheduling, reductions, memory allocation, and thread affinity and binding.

Operating System	Dynamic Link	Static Link
Linux*	libiomp5.so	libiomp5.a
OS X*	libiomp5.dylib	libiomp5.a
Windows*	libiomp5md.lib libiomp5md.dll	None

Many routines in the OpenMP* support libraries are more highly optimized for Intel® microprocessors than for non-Intel microprocessors.

Stubs Libraries

To use these libraries, specify -[Q]openmp-stubs compiler option. These allow you to compile OpenMP* applications in serial mode and provide stubs for OpenMP* routines and extended Intel-specific routines.

Operating System	Dynamic Link	Static Link
Linux*	libiompstubs5.so	libiompstubs5.a
OS X*	libiompstubs5.dylib	libiompstubs5.a
Windows*	libiompstubs5md.lib libiompstubs5md.dll	None

Execution modes

The Intel® Compiler enables you to run an application under different execution modes specified at run time; the libraries support the turnaround, throughput, and serial modes. Use the KMP_LIBRARYenvironment variable to select the modes at run time.

Mode	Description
throughput (default)	The throughput mode allows the program to yield to other running programs and adjust resource usage to produce efficient execution in a dynamic environment. In a multi-user environment where the load on the parallel machine is not constant or where the job stream is not predictable, it may be better to design and tune for throughput. This minimizes the total time to run multiple jobs simultaneously. In this mode, the worker threads yield to other threads while waiting for more parallel work. After completing the execution of a parallel region, threads wait for new parallel work to become available. After a certain period of time has elapsed, they stop waiting and sleep. Until more parallel work becomes available, sleeping allows processor and resources to be used for other work by non-OpenMP threaded code that may execute between parallel regions, or by other applications. The amount of time to wait before sleeping is set either by the `KMP_BLOCKTIME` environment variable or by the KMP_SET_BLOCKTIME() function. A small blocktime value may offer better overall performance if your application contains non-OpenMP threaded code that executes between parallel regions. A larger blocktime value may be more appropriate if threads are to be reserved solely for use for OpenMP* execution, but may penalize other concurrently-running OpenMP* or threaded applications.
turnaround	The turnaround mode is designed to keep active all processors involved in the parallel computation, which minimizes execution time of a single job. In this mode, the worker threads actively wait for more parallel work, without yielding to other threads (although they are still subject to `KMP_BLOCKTIME` control). In a dedicated (batch or single user) parallel environment where all processors are exclusively allocated to the program for its entire run, it is most important to effectively use all processors all of the time. Note Avoid over-allocating system resources. The condition can occur if either too many threads have been specified, or if too few processors are available at run time. If system resources are over-allocated, this mode will cause poor performance. The throughput mode should be used instead if this occurs.
serial	The serial mode forces parallel applications to run as a single thread.

Mode

Description

throughput (default)

The throughput mode allows the program to yield to other running programs and adjust resource usage to produce efficient execution in a dynamic environment.

In a multi-user environment where the load on the parallel machine is not constant or where the job stream is not predictable, it may be better to design and tune for throughput. This minimizes the total time to run multiple jobs simultaneously. In this mode, the worker threads yield to other threads while waiting for more parallel work.

After completing the execution of a parallel region, threads wait for new parallel work to become available. After a certain period of time has elapsed, they stop waiting and sleep. Until more parallel work becomes available, sleeping allows processor and resources to be used for other work by non-OpenMP threaded code that may execute between parallel regions, or by other applications.

The amount of time to wait before sleeping is set either by the KMP_BLOCKTIME environment variable or by the KMP_SET_BLOCKTIME() function. A small blocktime value may offer better overall performance if your application contains non-OpenMP threaded code that executes between parallel regions. A larger blocktime value may be more appropriate if threads are to be reserved solely for use for OpenMP* execution, but may penalize other concurrently-running OpenMP* or threaded applications.

turnaround

The turnaround mode is designed to keep active all processors involved in the parallel computation, which minimizes execution time of a single job. In this mode, the worker threads actively wait for more parallel work, without yielding to other threads (although they are still subject to KMP_BLOCKTIME control). In a dedicated (batch or single user) parallel environment where all processors are exclusively allocated to the program for its entire run, it is most important to effectively use all processors all of the time.

Note

Avoid over-allocating system resources. The condition can occur if either too many threads have been specified, or if too few processors are available at run time. If system resources are over-allocated, this mode will cause poor performance. The throughput mode should be used instead if this occurs.

serial

The serial mode forces parallel applications to run as a single thread.

OpenMP* Support Libraries

Performance Libraries

Stubs Libraries

Execution modes

Note

See Also