Dynamic Internet overlay deployment and management using the X-Bone

• Published in: Computer networks (Amsterdam, Netherlands : 1999) Netherlands : 1999), 2001-07, Vol.36 (2), p.117-135
• Main Author: Touch, Joe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Computer architecture; Computer networks; Encapsulation; Internet; Internet architecture; Network management; Network management systems; Overlay networks; Software; Studies; Tunnels; Virtual networks; VPNs; X-Bone
• ISSN: 1389-1286; 1872-7069
• DOI: 10.1016/S1389-1286(01)00172-4

The X-Bone dynamically deploys and manages Internet overlays to reduce configuration effort and increase network component sharing. The X-Bone discovers, configures, and monitors network resources to create overlays over existing IP networks. Overlays are useful for deploying overlapping virtual networks on shared infrastructure and for simplifying topology. The X-Bone extends current overlay management by adding dynamic resource discovery, deployment, and monitoring, and allows network components (hosts, routers) to participate simultaneously in multiple overlays. Its two-layer IP in IP tunneled overlays support existing applications and unmodified routing, multicast, and DNS services in unmodified host operating systems. This two-layer scheme uniquely supports recursive overlays, useful for fault tolerance and dynamic relocation. The X-Bone uses multicast to simplify resource discovery, and provides secure deployment as well as secure overlays. This paper presents the X-Bone architecture, and discusses its components and features, and their performance impact.