diff -r 4962564c4ce6 -r 1af45ed3525c src/mem/ruby/network/MessageBuffer.hh
--- a/src/mem/ruby/network/MessageBuffer.hh	Thu Jun 18 23:02:39 2015 -0500
+++ b/src/mem/ruby/network/MessageBuffer.hh	Thu Jun 18 23:03:38 2015 -0500
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@
 
 #include "mem/ruby/common/Address.hh"
 #include "mem/ruby/common/Consumer.hh"
-#include "mem/ruby/network/MessageBufferNode.hh"
 #include "mem/ruby/slicc_interface/Message.hh"
 #include "mem/packet.hh"
 
@@ -67,11 +66,11 @@
     void
     delayHead()
     {
-        MessageBufferNode node = m_prio_heap.front();
+        MsgPtr m = m_prio_heap.front();
         std::pop_heap(m_prio_heap.begin(), m_prio_heap.end(),
-                      std::greater<MessageBufferNode>());
+                      std::greater<MsgPtr>());
         m_prio_heap.pop_back();
-        enqueue(node.m_msgptr, Cycles(1));
+        enqueue(m, Cycles(1));
     }
 
     bool areNSlotsAvailable(unsigned int n);
@@ -112,7 +111,7 @@
     peekMsgPtr() const
     {
         assert(isReady());
-        return m_prio_heap.front().m_msgptr;
+        return m_prio_heap.front();
     }
 
     void enqueue(MsgPtr message) { enqueue(message, Cycles(1)); }
@@ -168,7 +167,7 @@
 
     //! Consumer to signal a wakeup(), can be NULL
     Consumer* m_consumer;
-    std::vector<MessageBufferNode> m_prio_heap;
+    std::vector<MsgPtr> m_prio_heap;
 
     // use a std::map for the stalled messages as this container is
     // sorted and ensures a well-defined iteration order
diff -r 4962564c4ce6 -r 1af45ed3525c src/mem/ruby/network/MessageBuffer.cc
--- a/src/mem/ruby/network/MessageBuffer.cc	Thu Jun 18 23:02:39 2015 -0500
+++ b/src/mem/ruby/network/MessageBuffer.cc	Thu Jun 18 23:03:38 2015 -0500
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@
     DPRINTF(RubyQueue, "Peeking at head of queue.\n");
     assert(isReady());
 
-    const Message* msg_ptr = m_prio_heap.front().m_msgptr.get();
+    const Message* msg_ptr = m_prio_heap.front().get();
     assert(msg_ptr);
 
     DPRINTF(RubyQueue, "Message: %s\n", (*msg_ptr));
@@ -204,12 +204,11 @@
 
     msg_ptr->updateDelayedTicks(m_sender->clockEdge());
     msg_ptr->setLastEnqueueTime(arrival_time);
+    msg_ptr->setMsgCounter(m_msg_counter);
 
     // Insert the message into the priority heap
-    MessageBufferNode thisNode(arrival_time, m_msg_counter, message);
-    m_prio_heap.push_back(thisNode);
-    push_heap(m_prio_heap.begin(), m_prio_heap.end(),
-        greater<MessageBufferNode>());
+    m_prio_heap.push_back(message);
+    push_heap(m_prio_heap.begin(), m_prio_heap.end(), greater<MsgPtr>());
 
     DPRINTF(RubyQueue, "Enqueue arrival_time: %lld, Message: %s\n",
             arrival_time, *(message.get()));
@@ -227,7 +226,7 @@
     assert(isReady());
 
     // get MsgPtr of the message about to be dequeued
-    MsgPtr message = m_prio_heap.front().m_msgptr;
+    MsgPtr message = m_prio_heap.front();
 
     // get the delay cycles
     message->updateDelayedTicks(m_receiver->clockEdge());
@@ -242,7 +241,7 @@
     }
 
     pop_heap(m_prio_heap.begin(), m_prio_heap.end(),
-        greater<MessageBufferNode>());
+        greater<MsgPtr>());
     m_prio_heap.pop_back();
 
     return delayCycles;
@@ -265,14 +264,13 @@
 {
     DPRINTF(RubyQueue, "Recycling.\n");
     assert(isReady());
-    MessageBufferNode node = m_prio_heap.front();
+    MsgPtr node = m_prio_heap.front();
     pop_heap(m_prio_heap.begin(), m_prio_heap.end(),
-        greater<MessageBufferNode>());
+        greater<MsgPtr>());
 
-    node.m_time = m_receiver->clockEdge(m_recycle_latency);
+    node->setLastEnqueueTime(m_receiver->clockEdge(m_recycle_latency));
     m_prio_heap.back() = node;
-    push_heap(m_prio_heap.begin(), m_prio_heap.end(),
-        greater<MessageBufferNode>());
+    push_heap(m_prio_heap.begin(), m_prio_heap.end(), greater<MsgPtr>());
     m_consumer->
         scheduleEventAbsolute(m_receiver->clockEdge(m_recycle_latency));
 }
@@ -282,11 +280,13 @@
 {
     while(!lt.empty()) {
         m_msg_counter++;
-        MessageBufferNode msgNode(nextTick, m_msg_counter, lt.front());
+        MsgPtr m = lt.front();
+        m->setLastEnqueueTime(nextTick);
+        m->setMsgCounter(m_msg_counter);
 
-        m_prio_heap.push_back(msgNode);
+        m_prio_heap.push_back(m);
         push_heap(m_prio_heap.begin(), m_prio_heap.end(),
-                  greater<MessageBufferNode>());
+                  greater<MsgPtr>());
 
         m_consumer->scheduleEventAbsolute(nextTick);
         lt.pop_front();
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@
     DPRINTF(RubyQueue, "Stalling due to %s\n", addr);
     assert(isReady());
     assert(addr.getOffset() == 0);
-    MsgPtr message = m_prio_heap.front().m_msgptr;
+    MsgPtr message = m_prio_heap.front();
 
     dequeue();
 
@@ -351,8 +351,8 @@
         ccprintf(out, " consumer-yes ");
     }
 
-    vector<MessageBufferNode> copy(m_prio_heap);
-    sort_heap(copy.begin(), copy.end(), greater<MessageBufferNode>());
+    vector<MsgPtr> copy(m_prio_heap);
+    sort_heap(copy.begin(), copy.end(), greater<MsgPtr>());
     ccprintf(out, "%s] %s", copy, m_name);
 }
 
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@
 MessageBuffer::isReady() const
 {
     return ((m_prio_heap.size() > 0) &&
-            (m_prio_heap.front().m_time <= m_receiver->clockEdge()));
+        (m_prio_heap.front()->getLastEnqueueTime() <= m_receiver->clockEdge()));
 }
 
 bool
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@
     // Check the priority heap and read any messages that may
     // correspond to the address in the packet.
     for (unsigned int i = 0; i < m_prio_heap.size(); ++i) {
-        Message *msg = m_prio_heap[i].m_msgptr.get();
+        Message *msg = m_prio_heap[i].get();
         if (msg->functionalRead(pkt)) return true;
     }
 
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@
     // Check the priority heap and write any messages that may
     // correspond to the address in the packet.
     for (unsigned int i = 0; i < m_prio_heap.size(); ++i) {
-        Message *msg = m_prio_heap[i].m_msgptr.get();
+        Message *msg = m_prio_heap[i].get();
         if (msg->functionalWrite(pkt)) {
             num_functional_writes++;
         }
diff -r 4962564c4ce6 -r 1af45ed3525c src/mem/ruby/network/MessageBufferNode.hh
--- a/src/mem/ruby/network/MessageBufferNode.hh	Thu Jun 18 23:02:39 2015 -0500
+++ /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
@@ -1,75 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright (c) 1999-2008 Mark D. Hill and David A. Wood
- * All rights reserved.
- *
- * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
- * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
- * met: redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
- * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer;
- * redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
- * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
- * documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution;
- * neither the name of the copyright holders nor the names of its
- * contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
- * this software without specific prior written permission.
- *
- * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
- * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
- * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
- * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
- * OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
- * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
- * LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
- * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
- * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
- * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
- * OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
- */
-
-#ifndef __MEM_RUBY_BUFFERS_MESSAGEBUFFERNODE_HH__
-#define __MEM_RUBY_BUFFERS_MESSAGEBUFFERNODE_HH__
-
-#include <iostream>
-
-#include "mem/ruby/slicc_interface/Message.hh"
-
-class MessageBufferNode
-{
-  public:
-    MessageBufferNode()
-        : m_time(0), m_msg_counter(0)
-    {}
-
-    MessageBufferNode(const Tick time, uint64_t counter,
-                      const MsgPtr& msgptr)
-        : m_time(time), m_msg_counter(counter), m_msgptr(msgptr)
-    {}
-
-    void print(std::ostream& out) const;
-
-  public:
-    Tick m_time;
-    uint64_t m_msg_counter; // FIXME, should this be a 64-bit value?
-    MsgPtr m_msgptr;
-};
-
-inline bool
-operator>(const MessageBufferNode& n1, const MessageBufferNode& n2)
-{
-    if (n1.m_time == n2.m_time) {
-        assert(n1.m_msg_counter != n2.m_msg_counter);
-        return n1.m_msg_counter > n2.m_msg_counter;
-    } else {
-        return n1.m_time > n2.m_time;
-    }
-}
-
-inline std::ostream&
-operator<<(std::ostream& out, const MessageBufferNode& obj)
-{
-    obj.print(out);
-    out << std::flush;
-    return out;
-}
-
-#endif // __MEM_RUBY_BUFFERS_MESSAGEBUFFERNODE_HH__
diff -r 4962564c4ce6 -r 1af45ed3525c src/mem/ruby/network/MessageBufferNode.cc
--- a/src/mem/ruby/network/MessageBufferNode.cc	Thu Jun 18 23:02:39 2015 -0500
+++ /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
@@ -1,39 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright (c) 1999-2008 Mark D. Hill and David A. Wood
- * All rights reserved.
- *
- * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
- * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
- * met: redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
- * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer;
- * redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
- * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
- * documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution;
- * neither the name of the copyright holders nor the names of its
- * contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
- * this software without specific prior written permission.
- *
- * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
- * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
- * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
- * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
- * OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
- * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
- * LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
- * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
- * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
- * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
- * OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
- */
-
-#include "mem/ruby/network/MessageBufferNode.hh"
-
-void
-MessageBufferNode::print(std::ostream& out) const
-{
-    out << "[";
-    out << m_time << ", ";
-    out << m_msg_counter << ", ";
-    out << *m_msgptr << "; ";
-    out << "]";
-}
diff -r 4962564c4ce6 -r 1af45ed3525c src/mem/ruby/network/SConscript
--- a/src/mem/ruby/network/SConscript	Thu Jun 18 23:02:39 2015 -0500
+++ b/src/mem/ruby/network/SConscript	Thu Jun 18 23:03:38 2015 -0500
@@ -40,6 +40,5 @@
 Source('BasicLink.cc')
 Source('BasicRouter.cc')
 Source('MessageBuffer.cc')
-Source('MessageBufferNode.cc')
 Source('Network.cc')
 Source('Topology.cc')
diff -r 4962564c4ce6 -r 1af45ed3525c src/mem/ruby/slicc_interface/Message.hh
--- a/src/mem/ruby/slicc_interface/Message.hh	Thu Jun 18 23:02:39 2015 -0500
+++ b/src/mem/ruby/slicc_interface/Message.hh	Thu Jun 18 23:03:38 2015 -0500
@@ -44,13 +44,14 @@
     Message(Tick curTime)
         : m_time(curTime),
           m_LastEnqueueTime(curTime),
-          m_DelayedTicks(0)
+          m_DelayedTicks(0), m_msg_counter(0)
     { }
 
     Message(const Message &other)
         : m_time(other.m_time),
           m_LastEnqueueTime(other.m_LastEnqueueTime),
-          m_DelayedTicks(other.m_DelayedTicks)
+          m_DelayedTicks(other.m_DelayedTicks),
+          m_msg_counter(other.m_msg_counter)
     { }
 
     virtual ~Message() { }
@@ -68,9 +69,7 @@
      * implement these methods.
      */
     virtual bool functionalRead(Packet *pkt) = 0;
-    //{ fatal("Read functional access not implemented!"); }
     virtual bool functionalWrite(Packet *pkt) = 0;
-    //{ fatal("Write functional access not implemented!"); }
 
     //! Update the delay this message has experienced so far.
     void updateDelayedTicks(Tick curTime)
@@ -85,14 +84,29 @@
     const Tick getLastEnqueueTime() const {return m_LastEnqueueTime;}
 
     const Tick& getTime() const { return m_time; }
-    void setTime(const Tick& new_time) { m_time = new_time; }
+    void setMsgCounter(uint64_t c) { m_msg_counter = c; }
+    uint64_t getMsgCounter() const { return m_msg_counter; }
 
   private:
-    Tick m_time;
+    const Tick m_time;
     Tick m_LastEnqueueTime; // my last enqueue time
     Tick m_DelayedTicks; // my delayed cycles
+    uint64_t m_msg_counter; // FIXME, should this be a 64-bit value?
 };
 
+inline bool
+operator>(const MsgPtr &lhs, const MsgPtr &rhs)
+{
+    const Message *l = lhs.get();
+    const Message *r = rhs.get();
+
+    if (l->getLastEnqueueTime() == r->getLastEnqueueTime()) {
+        assert(l->getMsgCounter() != r->getMsgCounter());
+        return l->getMsgCounter() > r->getMsgCounter();
+    }
+    return l->getLastEnqueueTime() > r->getLastEnqueueTime();
+}
+
 inline std::ostream&
 operator<<(std::ostream& out, const Message& obj)
 {