Performance Modelling of the Multicast Balanced Gamma Switch

This paper presents an analytical model for the performance analysis of a new cell-based multicast switch for broadband communications. Using distributed control and a modular design, the Balanced Gamma switch features a high performance for unicast, multicast and combined traffic under both random and bursty conditions. Although it has buffers on input and output ports, the multicast BG switch follows predominantly an output-buffered architecture. The analytical model follows the three phase switching operation. The performance is evaluated under multicast random traffic in terms of cell loss ratio and cell delay. Performance under bursty traffic is studied through simulation and the results are compared to those of an ideal pure output-buffered multicast switch.