Scalability measurements in an information-centric network

Abstract

Information Centric Networking (ICN) is a new paradigm in which the network layer provides users with content, instead of providing communication channels between hosts, and is aware of the name (identifier) of the contents. In this chapter, first, we briefly describe the FP7 project CONVERGENCE and its approach to ICN. Second, we discuss the needs on measurements required by ICN. ICN is different in several aspects, with respect to the current networking architecture. The measurement needs in an ICN are virtually endless, as designing an ICN is conceptually equivalent to devising a new Internet. Thus, claiming to address this issue in a single chapter would be pretentious. However, the study on ICN is in its initial stage and we want to focus on some of the most pressing and specific aspects of ICN, namely the scalability of its naming and routing functionality. This study is necessary to assess the feasibility of ICN, before addressing other metrics of interest. Thus, the third and main part of the chapter describes our routing-by-name architecture and reports the results of specific measurements on routing issues. Measurements are performed both by means of simulations and by using OneLab, an open, global research network that supports the development of new network services. Our results show that the proposed architecture, designed to improve the scalability of routing tables, is feasible with current technology. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.