TR-95-06-01.pdf

X. Zhang and Y. Yan
``Modeling and Characterizing Parallel Computing Performance on
Heterogeneous Networks of Workstations"

in Proceedings of the 7th IEEE Symposium on Parallel and
Distributed Processing (SPDP'95), October, 1995.

Abstract
--------

A heterogeneous network of workstations (NOW)
introduces a new performance factor into
distributed computing: a large variation of the computing power of
the different workstations.
This unique factor makes traditional performance models/metrics
for homogeneous computing measurement
and evaluation not suitable for heterogeneous computing.
In this paper, we present models which quantify the
heterogeneity of networks and characterize the performance
effects.
The models consider effects of both the heterogeneity and time-sharing
in a non-dedicated environment.
Speedup, efficiency and scalability
are defined.
These models are general enough to cover performance evaluation of
both homogeneous and heterogeneous
computations in dedicated and non-dedicated NOW systems.
To validate and support performance modeling results,
we conducted a collection of
experimental measurements for evaluating
computing performance and
scalability of
a group of application programs on
a heterogeneous NOW.