1 | Useful terms include: |
2 | Scalability: Can network be extended to very large systems? Related to wire length (synchronization and driving problems), degree (pinout) |
3 | Fault Tolerance: How easily can system bypass faulty processor, memory, switch, or link? How much of system is lost by fault? |
4 | Blocking: Some communication requests may not get through, due to conflicts caused by other requests. |
5 | Nonblocking: All communication requests succeed. Sometimes just applies as long as no two requests are for same memory cell or processor. |
6 | Latency (delay): Maximal time for nonblocked request to be transmitted. |
7 | 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. |
8 | Worm Hole Routing -- Intermediate switch nodes do not wait for full message but allow it to pass throuch in small packets |