Connection-based communication in dynamic networks

Abstract

We analyze and improve the fault tolerance of practical, efficient end to end communication schemes. We concentrate on connection-based source routing schemes, used in most existing wide-area networks, e.g. in SNA/APPN. These schemes are composed of three components: a topology update protocol, a route selection algorithm and a connection protocol. The topology update protocol maintains an approximation of the network topology at every processor. The route selection algorithm in the source processor uses the topology approximation to select the `best' route to the destination. The connection protocol sends messages along this route.