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Useful terms include:
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Scalability: Can network be extended to very large systems? Related to wire length (synchronization and driving problems), degree (pinout)
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Fault Tolerance: How easily can system bypass faulty processor, memory, switch, or link? How much of system is lost by fault?
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Blocking: Some communication requests may not get through, due to conflicts caused by other requests.
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Nonblocking: All communication requests succeed. Sometimes just applies as long as no two requests are for same memory cell or processor.
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Latency (delay): Maximal time for nonblocked request to be transmitted.
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Bandwidth: Maximal total rate (MB/sec) of system communication, or subsystem-to-subsystem communication. Sometimes determined by cutsets, which cut all communication between subsystems. Often useful in providing lower bounds on time needed for task.
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Worm Hole Routing -- Intermediate switch nodes do not wait for full message but allow it to pass throuch in small packets
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