An approximate performance model for load-dependent interactive queues with application to load balancing in distributed systems

An approximate performance evaluation technique for analyzing load-dependent interactive queueing systems is proposed. The service stations in the queuing system are heterogeneous., i.e. they have different service rates. As an example, the authors apply this analytical method to a recently proposed receiver-initiated dynamic load balancing scheme in a multiple-station distributed heterogeneous computer system. This performance model attempts to obtain approximations to the steady-state distribution of the average system response time for a multiple-node heterogeneous scenario. The results are validated using a GPSS (general-purpose system simulation) model. Comparison between this approximation model and the simulation results show excellent agreement. The performance of the ERIDA scheme is compared with the no-load-sharing case and also with a centralized load-balancing scheme. These latter systems provide lower and upper bounds on performance of a distributed and sharing scheme.<>