Peer-to-Peer vs. the Internet: A Discussion on the Proper and Practical Location of Functionality

Peer-to-peer information sharing has become one of the dominant Internet applications, measured not only in the number of users, but also in the network bandwidth consumed. Thus, it is reasonable to examine the location of support functionality such as self-organisation, resource discovery, multipoint-to-multipoint group communication, forwarding, and routing, to provide the needed service to applications while optimising resource usage in the network. This position paper is intended to stimulate discussion in two related areas: First, where {em should} functionality to support peer-to-peer applications be located: in the network, or as an application overlay among end systems. Second, where {em can} functionality be located, given the practical constraints of the modern Internet including closed systems and middleboxes, as well as administrative, legal, and social issues. We will discuss the performance implications of these decisions, including whether low latency bounds for delay sensitive peer-to-peer applications (such as distributed network computing) can ever be achieved in this environment

Axon: Host-Network Interface Design

This paper describes the Axon host-network interface architecture. The Axon project is investigating an integrated design of host architecture, operating systems, and communications protocols to allow applications to utilize the high bandwidth provided by the next generation of communications networks. The Axon host architecture and network interface is designed to provide a high bandwidth low latency path directly between the network and host memory. A pipelined communications processor (CMP) serves as a network interface with direct access to host memory, capable of delivering bandwidth in excess of 1 Gbps to applications. This provides the ability to support demanding applications such as scientific visualizations and imaging, requiring high bandwidth and low latency

Axon: A High Speed Communication Architecture for Distributed Applications

There are two complementary trends in the computer and communication fields. Increasing processor power and memory availability allow more demanding applications, such as scientific visualization and imaging. Advances in network performance and functionality have the potential for supporting programs requiring high bandwidth and predictable performance. However, the bottleneck in increasingly in the host-network interface, and thus the ability to deliver high performance communication capability to applications has not kept up with the advances in computer and network speed. We have proposed a new architecture that meets these challenges called Axon, whose novel aspects include: an integrated design of hardware, operating systems, and communications protocols, stressing both performance and the required functionality for demanding applications; the proper division of hardware and software function; and reorganization of end-to-end protocols to take advantage of the increased functionality of the emerging high speed internetworks

Axon: Network Virtual Storage Design

This paper describes the design of network virtual storage (NVS) in the Axon host communications architecture for distributed applications. The Axon project is investigating an integrated design of host architecture, operating systems, and communications protocols to allow applications to utilize the high bandwidth provided by the next generation of communications networks. NVS extends segmented paged virtual storage management and address translation mechanisms to include segments located across an internetwork. This provides the ability to efficiently use the shared memory paradigm in non-local environments, as well as the support for a very high speed end-to-end data path between demanding applications such as scientific visualization and imaging

Axon: Application-Oriented Lightweight Transport Protocol Design

This paper describes the application-oriented lightweight transport protocol for object transfer (ALTP-OT) in the Axon host communication architecture for distributed applications. The Axon Project is investigating an integrated design of host architecture, operating systems, and communication protocols to allow the utilization of the high band-width provided by the next generation of communication networks. ALTP-OT provides the end-to-end transport of segment and message objects for interprocess communication across a very high speed internetwork, supporting demanding applications such as scientific visualization and imaging. ALTP-OT uses rate-based flow control specifically oriented to the transfer of objects directly between application memory spaces. This document is intended to present the design of ALTP-OT, rather than serve as a complete specification and implementation report. It should be treated as a request for comments, and will be periodically updated to reflect comments form the research community and progress on Axon design and prototype implementation. Last revision April 5, 1990

Axon Host-Network Interface Architecture for Gigabit Communication

This paper describes the design of the Axon host-network interface architecture, and performance factors determining its design. The Axon project is investigating an integrated design of the host architecture, operating systems, and communications protocols to allow applications to utilise the high bandwidth provided by the next generation of communications networks. The Axon host architecture and network interface is designed to provide a path directly between the network interface with direct access to host memory, capable of delivering bandwidth in excess of 1 Gbps to applications. This provide the ability to support demanding applications such as scientific visualisation and imaging

Disaster-resilient communication networks:Principles and best practices

Communication network failures that are caused by disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes and cyber-attacks, can have significant economic and societal impact. To address this problem, the research community has been investigating approaches to network resilience for several years. However, aside from well-established techniques, many of these solutions have not found their way into operational environments. The RECODIS COST Action aims to address this shortcoming by providing solutions that are tailored to specific types of challenge, whilst considering the wider socio-economic issues that are associated with their deployment. To support this goal, in this paper, we present an overview of some of the foundational related work on network resilience, covering topics such as measuring resilience and resilient network architectures, amongst others. In addition, we provide insights into current operational best practices for ensuring the resilience of carrier-grade communication networks. The aim of this paper is to support the goals of the EU COST Action RECODIS and the wider research community in engineering more resilient communication networks

Protocols for High Speed Networks: Life after ATM?

This paper will provide a brief history of networking, noting the transition from disjoint network infrastructure and media to the emerging integrated broadband networks. The current state of affairs and significant challenges in deploying a broadband Global Information Infrastructure based on ATM and B-ISDN will be discussed. Even if we solve all the hard technical problems and practical challenges associated with this, all we have provided is an integrated network infrastructure that is capable of transporting high bandwidth. We still have not solved the latency problem (bandwidth-×-delay product) for WAN applications, or provided for the delivery of this bandwidth to the applications through the host architecture and operating systems. The sorts of emerging applications we must support, and some of the challenges, issues, and areas of research that remain at the end system to support these new applications will be described. Finally, some of the research directions to be pursued wil..

Resilience of Backbone Provider Networks

IEEE INFOCOM Student Workshop, March, 2012