Analytical Modeling of Multistage, Multipath Networks

Because of their ability to tolerate faults, multipath, multistage networks provide useful interconnection schemes for large-scale parallel computers. However, the analytical models that have been used to analyze the performance Banyan networks cannot be used to evaluate the performance of multipath networks. We present here what we believe to be the first analytical model that allows calculation of the bandwidth of the general class of unbuffered, packet-switched, multipath, multistage networks. The equations yielded by the model can be solved either exactly or by Monte Carlo approximation. The model agrees well with the results of a more complex simulation and provides a first step towards solution of the open problem of modeling of buffered, packet-switched, multipath, multistage networks.