Morphogenesis is the process that gives shapes to organisms from an embryonic stage using a process of cell-division. Starting from a simple embryonic cell, the controlled division and transformation of the cells into different types leads to the creation of a complex organism. The growth of complex organisms is completely autonomic, and is of the best examples of self-organizing systems that can be found in nature. In comparison, computer networks of today are much more static and require a significant human intervention in order to take on the shape and size that is desired. However, emerging technology such as virtualization and network computing enables an architecture where computer networks can also develop using morphogenesis. In this paper, we present the benefits of morphogenesis in a computer network, and we describe an architecture for a computer network which self-organizes itself using the principles of morphogenesis.
By: Vasileios Pappas, Dinesh C. Verma
Published in: RC24769 in 2009
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