A decentralized task scheduling algorithm and its performance modeling for computer networks

A dynamic task scheduling algorithm, that is stable, decentralized, and adaptive to network topology, is presented. The proposed algorithm is an extension of nearest neighbor load balancing strategy with an enhanced degree of efJiciency and it is intendedfor multicomputers connected by a store and forward communication network. The proposed algorithm is modeled by a central server open queuing network. It is shown that the response time of a task consists of two parts. The first part comprises a task‘s settling time which consists of scheduling time, communication time, and waiting time in scheduling and communication queues. The second part comprises waiting time in the execution queue in the execution time itself. In order to reduce thefirst response time, the scheduling algorithm needs to be stable, so that a task is quickly settled at some node. On the other hand, the second response time is reduced if the algorithm ejiciently migrates the task to a lightly loaded node. The proposed algorithm is comprehensively evaluated, through simulation and analytical model, and is shown to be both stable and efficient. For performance evaluation, the task wander cost and the scheduling overhead is also taken into account. Experimental results are also obtained for another nearest neighbor scheduling scheme and compared with the proposed algorithm.