Implementing Multicast Data Dissemination

Abstract

In this paper we consider the design and implementation of a general-purpose reliable multicast data-dissemination facility. Using design insights we uncovered for data scheduling under high request load, reliable transmission over lossy networks, and bandwidth slicing to accommodate participants of varying network capacity, we create a working implementation able to transmit data efficiently over IP multicast networks. We describe challenges we encountered and design decisions we made in implementing our prototype, then evaluate the performance of our system and seek its scaling limits. We find that our data server can provide data to hundreds of simultaneous clients and provide service under request loads beyond the limits of traditional queued or other unicast file service.