MAX-MIN FAIR NETWORK BANDWIDTH ALLOCATOR

Allocation of an amount of available bandwidth among a plurality of users of a computer network is provided. Each user has a maximum allocation of bandwidth. Tier information of a plurality of tiers is accessed. In the tier information, users are grouped according to maximum allocation. Tier information includes a breakpoint value of each tier. The available bandwidth is allocated in one example embodiment by (1) allocating the maximum allocations to users in tiers with breakpoint values less than or equal to the amount of available bandwidth, and (2) allocating remaining available bandwidth in a fair manner among remaining users, which are users in tiers with breakpoint values greater than the amount of available bandwidth. The breakpoint value of at least one tier is a minimum amount of bandwidth that must be allocated in a Max-Min fair manner among the plurality of users such that each user in the tier receives its maximum allocation of bandwidth.