A clustering approach in characterizing interconnection networks

Networks of workstations (NOW) have gained importance in recent years. The interconnection network of NOW systems often consist of generic switches connected in an irregular topology. Traditionally, interconnection networks are characterized by their topological properties, such as number of nodes, diameter, and bisection width. These parameters are not sufficient in characterizing irregular networks. This research puts forth a new approach that characterizes both regular and irregular networks. A partitioning algorithm is proposed to break down a network topology into groups or clusters of nodes such that there is higher bandwidth within clusters than between clusters. By doing so, the potential bottlenecks of a network are identified. Furthermore, a characterization scheme based on measurement of these clusters is defined. The new scheme uses two parameters, the intercluster bandwidth index and intercluster link cost index to describe a network topology. Simulation results show that these two indices have stronger correlation to performance than traditional topological properties.