z2z: Discovering Zeroconf Services Beyond Local Link

The Zeroconf technology, better known as Apple Bonjour, is one of the most prominent solutions for service discovery in local area networks. Zeroconf uses multicast to attain its goal of eliminating configurations in service discovery. The multicast-based design, however, makes it difficult for Zeroconf services to reach beyond the local link. This makes the technology unsuitable for certain discovery scenarios which would otherwise be good candidates. This paper presents the Zeroconf-to-Zeroconf Toolkit (z2z), our first attempt to realize a hybrid architecture that combines the simplicity of Zeroconf with the scalability of DHT-based peer-to-peer networks. Our z2z connects multiple Zeroconf subnets using OpenDHT. By doing so, it extends the reach of existing Zeroconf-enabled applications beyond the local link. Furthermore, it provides a framework on which to build a global service discovery solution based on Zeroconf.