Overlay networks create a structured virtual topology above the basic transport protocol level that facilitates deterministic search and guarantees convergence. Overlay networks are evolving into a critical component for self-organizing systems. Here we outline the differences between flooding-style and overlay networks, and offer specific examples of how researchers are applying the latter to problems requiring high-speed, self-organizing network topologies.
Published in:
Internet Computing, IEEE
(Volume:7
,
Issue:
4
)
Date of Publication: July-Aug. 2003