Topology-aware algorithms for large-scale communication

When designing communication protocols there is always a tradeoff between g enerality and performance. This chapter reports one approach to achieve rig ht balance between these two aspects, using a network model that can be app lied to the majority of existing large-scale networks based on reliable hig h-speed local-area networks interconnected by slower long-haul connections. The approach consists in making visible relevant topological aspects of th e uderlying network infrastructure to the protocol designer, and is illustr ated by several algorithms that use topology information to achieve improve d performance.