
CHAPTER 10 Interconnection Network Design
impact of the many interacting facets can be quite subtle. Moreover, no clear consen-
sus exists in the field on the appropriate cost model for networks since trade-offs can
be made between very different technologies; for example, bandwidth of the links
may be traded against complexity of the switches. It is also very difficult to establish
a well-defined workload against which to assess network designs since program
requirements are influenced by every other level of the system design before being
presented to the network. This is the kind of situation that commonly gives rise to
distinct "design camps ...