Peer4Peer: e-Science Community for Network Overlay and Grid Computing Research

Abstract

This chapter describes a novel approach to Grid and overlay network research that leverages distributed infrastructures and multi-core machines enabling increased simulation complexity and speed. We present its motivation, background, current shortcomings, and the core architectural concepts of the novel research proposed. This is an ongoing effort to further our peer-to-peer cycle-sharing platform by providing a scalable, efficient, and reliable simulation substrate for the Grid and overlay topologies developed by the research community. Thus, Grid and overlay simulations are improved due to (1) increased scalability of simulation tools with a novel parallel, distributed, and decentralized architecture; (2) harnessing the power of idle CPU cycles spread around the Internet as a desktop Grid (over a peer-to-peer overlay); and (3) a framework for topology definition, dissemination, evaluation, and reuse which eases Grid and overlay research. The infrastructure, simulation engine, topology modeling language (TML), management services, and portal comprise a cloud-like platform for overlay research.