Simulation Studies of Multiclass Queueing Networks

Multiclass queueing networks have been used to model communication and complex manufacturing systems. Recent results show that these networks can be unstable in the sense that the total number of jobs in the network explodes as time goes to infinity even if the traffic intensity at each station is less than unity. Simulation is used to demonstrate these unusual phenomena. Conjectures based on simulation are presented. Key words and phrases: discrete event simulation, multiclass queueing networks, instability, steady state. Submitted July 1995 Revised March 1996 IIE Transactions, Vol 29, pp 213-219 (1997). 1 Introduction Multiclass queueing networks have been used to model communication and complex manufacturing systems. A distinguishing feature of these networks is that there may be more than one job class served at a station. When there are multiple job classes waiting at a station, the server has to choose a job class each time that a service is completed. A dispatching rule is use..