\begin{abstract}
Workstations interconnected by high speed LANs are a tempting platform
for parallel computing.  Such LANs will likely support quality of
service guarantees that could be used by parallel programs.  QOS
schemes require applications to characterize their traffic.  To determine
the characteristics of parallel program traffic, we measured the network
behavior of seven parallel programs.  The traffic characteristics of
parallel programs are fundamentally different from those of media streams,
as are the guarantees they are likely to desire.  
\end{abstract}