Multicast performance modeling and evaluation for high-speed unidirectional torus networks

Abstract This paper evaluates the performance of various unicast-based and path-based multicast protocols for high-speed torus networks. The results of an experimental case-study on a Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) torus network are presented. Small-message latency models of these software-based multicast algorithms as well as analytical projections for larger unidirectional torus systems are also introduced. The strengths and weaknesses of selected multicast protocols are experimentally and analytically illustrated in terms of various metrics, such as startup and completion latency, CPU utilization, and link concentration and concurrency for SCI networks under various networking and multicasting scenarios.