The impact of wiring constraints on hierarchical network performance

Abstract

A unified approach, incorporating architectural and packaging issues, is necessary in the design of high performance computer networks. Clustering enables the authors to exploit the physical hierarchy imposed by packaging. Previously the authors examined the clustering of hypercube networks within the context of wiring constraints (see 1991 Int. Conf. on Parallel Processing, Aug. 1991). The authors extend their earlier work to compare the performance of hypercubes and meshes. They consider two cost constraints, bisection width and package pinout, and examine flat and clustered meshes and hypercubes. They find that the relative performance of networks depends on the chosen wiring constraint, as well as system configuration and message granularity.<>