Use of Peer-To-Peer technology in Internet access networks and its impacts

Objectives of the dissertation are impacts of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) traffic on Internet core networks as well as novel approaches for using P2P technology in Internet access networks. Thereby, challenges of P2P computing concerning topology awareness, scalability, and fault-tolerance are analyzed. The thesis´ first part focuses on improving insufficient scalability and fault-tolerance properties of present-day Internet services like the Domain Name System (DNS) by using available resources in access networks. The second part addresses P2P mechanisms for a highly scalable, resilient, and distributed storing and computing solution in the access network. Finally, a new algorithm for allowing topology awareness in P2P networks is proposed. For evaluation, a prototype for a P2P-based DNS has been developed and another prototype for a P2P-based store and compute platform is currently set up. Currently, the author is in his fourth PhD year and will finish in 2010. Further information, full references, and papers can be obtained from the websites given below the affiliation.