Fast batched data transfer with flush channels: A performance analysis

A flush channel offers the implementor of a distributed application the flexibility of specifying a message delivery order apropos of the demands of the application. This stands in marked contrast to the rigid FIFO (first-in-first-out) delivery order of communication with a FIFO channel. The more restrictive the delivery order, the less concurrency possible to exploit in message transmissions over a multi-path system. This paper investigates the possible gain in effective network bandwidth when a large amount of information, such as the transmission of image data, is transmitted over a multi-path flush channel as compared to a multi-path FIFO channel. Analytical and simulation results illustrate that the relaxed delivery order restrictions of the flush channel may reduce the mean message response time by a factor of the number of message fragments. This difference may be critical in meeting real-time requirements of an application.