Debugger for CUDA 3.2 on Windows XP

Accelerated Computing CUDA CUDA Programming and Performance
1

Hi folks

Does anyone know if there is a debugger for CUDA3.2 on Windows XP?

I see Parallel Nsight, but they probably don’t support OS Windows XP.
And from CUDA3.1 , there is no Emulation mode any more.

Any input is appreciated.

Best
Di

2

CUDA Toolkit 3.2 works with VS2008 SP1 and C++. I’ve tested nvidia samples. Everything is OK. But got problems with CUDA.NET 2.37 and 3.0. I couldn’t compile *.cu file from the post-built command line.

3

Hi mail_gy

Thank a lot for your input. Just to make it clear, did you say the emulation mode is still available for CUDA Toolkit 3.2 works with VS2008 SP1 and C++?

Thanks

4

Sorry, I don’t know, what does it mean “emulation mode” in context of CUDA. I would be glad, if you explain me. I have just started learning CUDA. I only wrote that VS compiled all CUDA samples successfully and I could go into the CUDA functions during debugging in VS. I have real videocard GeForce 9600 GS on my notebook.

5

Okay. With standard mode, you are not able to debug into the kernel function (you probably only debugged into the .cu file that calls the kernel). An “emulation mode” is a CPU “simulating” the GPU program running so the debugger can step into the kernel function (actually runs in CPU instead of GPU in standard mode).

6

Yes, you are right. I couldn’t go inside the kernel function during debugging. And does CUDA 3.0 and 3.1 have the Emulation mode?

7

CUDA 3.2 doesn’t have either. But CUDA 3.0 does. So I addressed this problem by using CUDA 3.0 in my laptop to debug in Emulation mode (So I can work at anywhere to program), and then do further optimization of the code in my work desktop.

8

In my opinion, emu mode cannot show all the problems in the code. Even if the code run well in emu mode, sometimes it might have some bugs when it runs on GPU

9

Yes, but at least it shows some problems in the code.

Emu mode is good for catching algorithmic bugs, it won’t help in catching synchronization bugs. The problem is that with a single video card (laptop, most desktops) or with windows xp, there is no way to debug CUDA without emu mode.

There is an option that might work though although I haven’t tested it out yet. It may be possible to run the CUDA code over gpuocelot on the CPU and debug using that

I think that it has a windows version now.

Have a look at:

http://code.google.com/p/gpuocelot/

10

In fact, my desktop have only one video card with windows xp, but I can debug CUDA without emu mode.