Queing Networks with Finite Capacities

Performance has been a major issue in the design and implementation of systems such as computer systems, production systems, communication networks and flexible manufacturing systems. The success of failure of such systems is judged by the degree to which performance objectives are met. Thus, tools and techniques for predicting performance measures are of great interest. In the last two decades it has been demonstrated several times that performance can be evaluated andor predicted well by queuing models which can be solved either by simulation or analytical methods. Simulation is the most general and powerful technique for studying and predicting system performance. However, the high cost of running the simulation programs and uncertain statistical accuracy, makes simulation less attractive. Compared to simulation, analytical methods are more restrictive but have the advantage that it is less costly to compute numerical results. Moreover, they can be implemented very quickly, thus it is very easy to give interpretations to the relationships between model parameters and performance measures. Analytical methods have proved invaluable in modeling a variety of computer systems, computer networks, flexible manufacturing systems, etc.