Dynamic Internet overlay deployment and management using the X-Bone

The X-Bone dynamically deploys and manages Internet overlays to reduce conf iguration effort and increase network component sharing. The X-Bone discove rs, configures, and monitors network resources to create overlays over exis ting IP networks. Overlays are useful for deploying overlapping virtual net works on shared infrastructure and for simplifying topology. The X-Bone ext ends current overlay management by adding dynamic resource discovery, deplo yment. and monitoring, and allows network components (hosts, routers) to pa rticipate simultaneously in multiple overlays. Its two-layer IP in IP tunne led overlays support existing applications and unmodified routing, multicas t, and DNS services in unmodified host operating systems. This two-layer sc heme uniquely supports recursive overlays, useful for fault tolerance and d ynamic relocation. The X-Bone uses multicast to simplify resource discovery , and provides secure deployment as well as secure overlays. This paper pre sents the X-Bone architecture, and discusses its components and features, a nd their performance impact. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese rved.