Rapid assessment of decentralized algorithms

The overall aim of the research described is to investigate the use of scalable, decentralized state-feedback algorithms for distributed systems resource management. These algorithms are required to be efficient and to respond to system changes in real time but have to base their decisions on incomplete and inaccurate information of the system state. A description is also given of CNCSIM, a software tool developed to support designers in distributed algorithms modelling. Specifically, CNCSIM, which is oriented towards the rapid assessment of decentralized load-sharing algorithms for distributed systems, is a distributed discrete event-driven simulator implemented in CONIC. It provides predictions of response time and other performance measures as a function of offered load, and allows tracing of the progress through the system of each message/event to facilitate model validation and analysis. An algorithm for time advancement in distributed simulation, which is part of CNSCIM, is presented