A methodology for multicriteria network partitioning (Q1086174)

Conventional solution techniques are not appropriate for the multiobjective partitioning of large-scale distributed computer networks. The multiple (conflicting) goals and constraints include the assignment of all nodes without violating partition capacity limitations, maximal communication between nodes assigned to the same partition, minimal dispersion of technology classes, minimal diversity of technology classes within partitions, maximal reliability and minimal cost. This problem has been mathematically formulated and a two-stage, heuristic solution method was developed and programmed for solution and evaluation. The modelling and solution methodologies are flexible and may easily be applied to a wide range of network partitioning problems.