Modeling of replicate-at-send multicasting in shared-memory ATM switches

The low cell loss rates required from ATM switches can be achieved with shared-memory based switches using large buffers. In this paper we present a fluid flow model for replicata-at-send distinct address queue multicasting in a shared-memory switch. Due to its buffer independence the model can calculate the performance of large buffered switches. The proposed model significantly reduces computational times and produces results that closely approximate simulation. In some cases the model can produce results which are difficult to obtain via simulation, without resorting to special techniques such as importance sampling