A method for scheduling a coordinated transfer of data among a plurality of processor nodes on a network comprises operating a multi-commodity flow model subject to a plurality of predetermined constraints. The model is configured to (a) receive as input a set of demands defining, for each of the plurality of processor nodes, an amount of data to be transferred to that processor node, (b) assign a plurality of paths linking the plurality of processor nodes, and (c) emit a schedule for transfer of the data along the plurality of paths so as to minimize a predetermined cost function, wherein the schedule comprises at least one store-and-forward operation and at least one copy operation.