Virtual channel load-balanced routing algorithm for Torus networks

In order to improve the network performance furthermore, a routing algorithm for 2D-Torus is investigated from the standpoint of load balance for virtual channels. The 2D-Torus network is divided into two virtual networks and each physical channel is split into three virtual channels. A novel virtual channel allocation policy and a routing algorithm are proposed, in which traffic load is distributed to those three virtual channels in a more load-balanced manner by introducing a random parameter. Simulations of the proposed algorithm are developed with a SystemC-based test bench. The results show that compared with the negative first for Torus networks (NF-T) algorithm, the proposed algorithm can achieve better performance in terms of network latency and throughput under different traffic patterns. It also shows that a routing algorithm with load balance for virtual channels can significantly improve the network performance furthermore.