A range of application classes is emerging in the Internet whose characteristics differ considerably from those of the point-to-point request/response protocols, which have dominated its recent past. Sensor applications, peer-to-peer systems, and massive multiplayer on-line games are multi-point applications that share both a need for the timely correlation of data generated by different participants in a session and a potentially unlimited number of session participants. We propose the use of middleboxes residing in the network to help in the scaling of these applications. As these emerging applications are not readily subject to standardization, we believe that a programmable model, in which a given middlebox can be instrumented to support various applications either simultaneously or over time, is desirable. We describe our work to date in building such a middlebox that makes use of hardware assists in its data path to maintain high performance.
By: Sean Rooney, Daniel Bauer, Paolo Scotton
Published in: 2003 IEEE Conf. on Open Architectures and Network Programming Proc.Piscataway, NJ, IEEE, p.65-74 in 2003
LIMITED DISTRIBUTION NOTICE:
This Research Report is available. This report has been submitted for publication outside of IBM and will probably be copyrighted if accepted for publication. It has been issued as a Research Report for early dissemination of its contents. In view of the transfer of copyright to the outside publisher, its distribution outside of IBM prior to publication should be limited to peer communications and specific requests. After outside publication, requests should be filled only by reprints or legally obtained copies of the article (e.g., payment of royalties). I have read and understand this notice and am a member of the scientific community outside or inside of IBM seeking a single copy only.
Questions about this service can be mailed to reports@us.ibm.com .