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Why multicast protocols (don't) scale: an analysis of multipoint algorithms for scalable group communication

Citation

Schooler, Eve Meryl (2001) Why multicast protocols (don't) scale: an analysis of multipoint algorithms for scalable group communication. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/44QZ-R465. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-08272001-155016

Abstract

With the exponential growth of the Internet, there is a critical need to design efficient, scalable and robust protocols to support the network infrastructure. A new class of protocols has emerged to address these challenges, and these protocols rely on a few key techniques, or micro-algorithms, to achieve scalability. By scalability, we mean the ability of groups of communicating processes to grow very large in size. We study the behavior of several of these fundamental techniques that appear in many deployed and emerging Internet standards: Suppression, Announce-Listen, and Leader Election. These algorithms are based on the principle of efficient multipoint communication, often in combination with periodic messaging. We assume a loosely-coupled communication model, where acknowledged messaging among groups of processes is not required. Thus, processes infer information from the periodic receipt or loss of messages from other processes. We present an analysis, validated by simulation, of the performance tradeoffs of each of these techniques. Toward this end, we derive a series of performance metrics that help us to evaluate these algorithms under lossy conditions: expected response time, network usage, memory overhead, consistency attainable, and convergence time. In addition, we study the impact of both correlated and uncorrelated loss on groups of communicating processes. As a result, this thesis provides insights into the scalability of multicast protocols that rely upon these techniques. We provide a systematic framework for calibrating as well as predicting protocol behavior over a range of operating conditions. In the process, we establish a general methodology for the analysis of these and other scalability techniques. Finally, we explore a theory of composition; if we understand the behavior of these micro-algorithms, then we can bound analytically the performance of the more complex algorithms that rely upon them.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:distributed systems; multicast; network communication; performance analysis; scalability
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Engineering and Applied Science
Major Option:Computer Science
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Chandy, K. Mani
Thesis Committee:
  • Chandy, K. Mani (chair)
  • Martin, Alain J.
  • Estrin, Deborah
  • Hickey, Jason J.
  • Bruck, Jehoshua
Defense Date:19 September 2000
Non-Caltech Author Email:eve_schooler (AT) acm.org
Record Number:CaltechETD:etd-08272001-155016
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-08272001-155016
DOI:10.7907/44QZ-R465
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:3236
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Imported from ETD-db
Deposited On:06 Sep 2001
Last Modified:20 Dec 2019 19:18

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